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SEVENTY «ECON I) ANNIVERSARY 



BIRTHDAY 



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CELEBRATED 



RY A NUMBKR OP HI8 PERSONAL FRiKND.S 



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>. E W YORK: 

M<f*rfc;rH)N k baker, I'klnterp, 25 pine stueet, 

1854. 



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SEVENTY-SECOND ANNIVEESAllY 



OF THE- 



BIRTHDAY 



OF 



DANIEL VeBSTER, 



CELEBRATED BY A KUJIBER OE HIS PERSONAL PRIENDS, 



AT THE 



ASTOR HOUSE 



IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 



JANUARY 18, 1854. 



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NEW YORK : 

McSPEDON & BAKER, PRINTERS, 25 PINE STREET, 

1854. 



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. £1340 



"we have come to do honoe to the anniversary of a day 

WHICH, seventy-two YEARS AGO, GAVE BIRTH TO AN ILLUSTRI- 
OUS AMERICAN CITIZEN, OUR PERSONAL FRIEND ; WE HAVE COME TO 
REJOICE THAT HE WAS BORN ; TO Re/oICE THAT HE WAS PERMITTED 
TO ADD TO THE GLORY OF HIS NATIVE COUNTRY, AND TO REJOICE 
IN THE BELIEF THAT HE WILL LIVE FOREVER ON THE PAGE OF HIS 
country's HISTORY." 



m i I I 1^-iu.m 



CONTENTS. 



rAGE 

PRAYER OF REV. DR. ADAMS "^ 

LETTERS AND SPEECHES. 

BISHOP WAIN WRIGHT 8 

HIRAM KETCHUM . - . - • 13 & 106 

J, PRESGOTT HALL 27 

REV. DR. ADAMS - ■- 33 & 90 

LUTHER BRADISH *^ 

CHARLES O'GONOR ^''' 

C. W. LAWRENGE ^^ 

JUDGE GAMPBELL - - . - 53 

DR.J.W.FRANGIS ^ 

THOMAS TILESTON ''^ 

FREDK. T. FRELINGHUYSEN 86 

CALEB BARSTOW - - 93 

MOSES H. GKINNELL ^ 

GEORGE CURTIS ^^ 

CHARLES W. STETSON , . . . - 108 

DR. A. H. STEVENS **^ 



"As personal friends and admirers of the late Daniel 
Webster, desirous of honoring his birthday, we will dine 
together, at the Astor House, on the 18th day of Janu- 
ary, instant. 



''January 5, 1854. 
Morris Ketchum, 
Jas. Renwick, 
Jno. Duer, 
Murray Hoffman, 
Stephen Whitney, 
Geo. Curtis, 
Jas. Brown, 
John Ward, 
M. Morgans, 
R. B. Minturn, 
Henry Grinnell, 
Jonathan Sturges, 
John J. Palmer, 
Caleb Barstow, 
Nelson Robinson, 
Chas. p. Kirkland, 
• G. L. Martense, 
Chas. A. Stetson, 
Chas. O'Conor, 
Paul Spofford, 
Edw. K. Collins, 
Drake Mills, 
Jas. S. Thayer, 



George Griswold, 
George Wood, 
John W. Francis, 
Chester Driggs, 
Alex. H. Stevens, 
Chas. E. Butler, 
Henry R. Dunham, 
Wm. M. Richards, 
T. Tileston, 
Sidney Brooks, 
Hiram Ketchum, 
J. C. Green, 
M. H. Grinnell, 
J. Prescott Hall, 
R. M. Blatchford, 
L. Bradish, 
Walter R. Jones, 
C. W. Lawrence, 

A. C. KiNGSLAND. 

Wm. W. Campbell, 
John W. Alsop, 
R. B. Coleman." 



At a meeting, of the foregoing subscribers, notified at 
the Astor House, it was decided that GtEORge Gtriswold, 
Esq., should be invited to preside at the dinner, and J. 
Prescott Hall, Esq., to act as Vice-President ; and that 
the following gentlemen should be appointed to act as 
the Committee of Arrangements : 

J. Prescott Hall, . Thos. Tileston,' 
Sidney Brooks, R. M. Blatchford, 

A. C. KiNGSLAND, Esquires. 

It was also decided to invite Greneral Scott and Rt. 
Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., and Rev. William 
Adams, D.D., to attend the dinner, as guests. 



ASTOR HOUSE. 



Wednesday, January 18, 1854. 
The guests assembled. Mr. Griswold presided. For 
the reason assigned in the note from that gentleman, Mr. 
Hall was not able to be present ; and Hiram Ketchum, 
Esq., upon being requested, assisted as Yice-President. 

Rev. Dr. Adams, upon being requested by the Presi- 
dent, pronounced the blessing, in the following words : 

" Almighty God, we adore thee as the source and author 
of all goodness. We thank thee for thy revealed word ; 
for thine unspeakable gift, Jesus Christ, thy son. We 
bless thee for thy gracious providence over our beloved 
country ; for the wisdom, fidelity, and success given to 
our fathers, for the wise man and the counsellor ; the 
ancient and the honorable whom thou hast raised up for 
our country's service. On this day we thank thee for 
the life and services of that distinguished man in honor 
of whose memory we are now assembled. May this oc- 
casion be blessed of thee to useful ends, to grateful 
memories, fraternal sympathies and good purposes. To 
thy benignant care we commend our common country ; 
preside over its councils, and incline us, as a nation, to 



8 

industiy, sobriety, honesty and religion. May our 
judges always be, as at the first, and oi'ir counsellors,. as 
at the beginning. Let the light of truth, the blessings of 
liberty, the protection of good governments, the peace 
and jo}^ of the gospel be diffused throughout the world ; 
thy kingdom come, ancl thy will be done on earth as it 
is done in heaven, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. 
Amen." 

A letter was then read from Gen. Scott's aid, stating 
that the invitation to the General had been received in 
his absence at Washington, and that his continued ab- 
sence would prevent his complying with the request of 
the committee. 

The following letter was read from Bishop Wain- 

WRIGHT : 

New York, January 18th, 1854. 

To J. PRE SCOTT HALL, . 
SroNEY BROOKS, 
THOxAJAS TILESTON, 

R. M. BLATCHFORD, and • 

A. C. KINGSLAND, Esquires. 

Committee, fyc, ^-c. 

Gentlemen : — I thank you for your invitation to meet 
with you on the anniversary of the birth of the late 
Daniel Webster, to confer together in sad, but pleasing 
retrospection upon his social and intellectual endow- 
ments. I felt it to be a hi'gh privilege, while he was 
living, to be counted one of his personal friends, and 
esteem it now an honor to have held this relationship to 
one of the greatest men this age or this nation has pro- 
duced. His pre-eminent talents were admired by all 



America, and I may add, the whole civilized world ; his 
powers and services as a statesman and orator were 
acknowledged, and are now remembered with gratitude 
by those men who differed with him in political views 
and principles ; but we who knew him also in private 
life could alone appreciate the full measure of his 
estimable qualities. It would be to me a grateful privi- 
lege to have the opportunity of speaking of him myself, 
and of bearing my humble testimony to his intellectual, 
social and moral worth, as manifested to me in my inter- 
course with him, and to hear others, who probably knew 
him better, and who are certainly far abler than myself 
to approach this subject, expatiate upon his noble charac- 
teristics. Professional engagements and considerations 
will, on the present occasion, prevent my enjoying this 
gratification ; and I must request you, with many thanks 
for the honor done me, to receive my apology for absence. 
I trust, however, that you will permit me to avail my- 
self of this opportunity to say a few words in relation to 
one feature in the character of that great man which was 
no{ prominent to the public eye, but which I had often 
the privilege of contemplating, and now reveal with 
special satisfaction ; I mean his unaffected and deep re- 
ligious sentiment. Whatever impressions Mr. Webster 
may have left upon others, who met him only on the 
arena of public iife or in the unrestrained freedom of 
social gatherings, I was rarely, if ever, in his company 
without being impressed with his deep reverence for the 
great truths of religion. During the few years in which 
I resided inJ^Boston, as rector of Trinity Chrfrch, Mrs. 



10 

Webster was my parishioner, and was very frequently 
accompanied by her husband to church, where he was 
apparently a devout worshij^per and an attentive hearer 
of the preached word. When we met, as was often the 
case during the week, and there was an opportunity for 
conversation, he would frequently refer to'the subject of 
the discourse on the previous Sunday, and never without 
my conviction that my views had been enlarged, and 
that new light had been thrown upon the point under 
discussion. Several times he suggested subjects which 
he wished to hear treated from the pulpit, and I have 
taken advantage of the suggestion. On one occasion I 
remember well, he said to me, with more than common 
earnestness, "There is one text I have often thought of 
as opening a grand subject, and I should like to hear it 
treated." "What is that, Mr. Webster?" Turning to 
me, for we were seated at table, with his eye kindling ■ 
under his overhanging brow, and speaking slowly, in his 
deep and tremulous tone, he said, "There is one law- 
giver." I replied, " It is a noble subject, and I will write 
upon it for next Sunday." "You cannot." " Why ?* it 
is but Wednesday, and I shall have ample time." " You 
cannot. That sermon will cost joii the best fortnight's 
labor you ever undertook." I thought, nevertheless, I 
could accomplish the design, and upon returning home 
to my study I undertook it — dwelling upon it and 
making notes. But the more I meditated the larger 
grew the subject, and I put myself faithfully to the task- 
for the remainder of the week. Saturday came, and the 
mighty idea had then stretched beyond my narrow grasp, 



11 

and I gave the subject up for the time, saymg to myself — 
Hooker has bent that bow, and Webster could, were he 
to try, but I cannot. 

I must mention one more fact out of many I could 
recount, which convinced me that great as were his in- 
tellectual powers, when the subject of religion was pre- 
sented to him he was ever ready to respond to it, and 
was humble, teachable and loving as a little child. 

Soon after I returned from Egypt and the Holy Land, 
hearing that Mr. Webster was in town, I called upon 
him at the Astor, as I was always accustomed to do. 
His reception of me was most cordial and affectionate. 
He asked many questions as to my Eastern travels, and 
as I rose to go away he took me by the hand and said, 
" I want you to do one thing for me. You have been 
over Palestine. I wish to get the best map I can com- 
mand, and have you sit down with me one hour — but one 
hour. I wish to go with you from place to place — Beth- 
lehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, the Sea of- Galilee, Jordan, 
Bethany, the Mount of Olives, and tell me, as I point, 
how it looks ; the hills, the trees, the rocks, the land, 
the water. I can never go there, but I would look, as 
nearly as I can, upon every spot sanctified by the pres- 
ence of our blessed Lord while he tabernacled in the 
flesh." His eyes filled with tears, and he earnestly pressed 
my hand. Multitudes of emotions swelled my heart. I 
returned the pressure and in silence departed. I have 
ever regretted that this opportunity never presented it- 
self, and I now lament that I had not more perseveringly 
sought for it. The questions of such a man upon such a 



12 ■ 

subject would have been sources of new thought, and the 
kmdling of deep and abiding sentiment. 

Whether or not this conversation helped to suggest to 
me the title of a book which I afterward published, 
"The Pathways and Abiding Places of our Blessed 
Lord,'' I cannot say : but I am sure it directed my atten- 
tion to the attempt to give^ some little novelty to the 
manner of presenting a pilgrimage to ground so fre- 
quently traveled as the Holy Land. 

I am, gentlemen. 
With grateful acknowledgments of your attention to me, 

Your friend and servant, 

JNO: M. WAINWRIGHT. 



The cloth having been j-emoved, the President called 
upon Hiram Ketchum, who rose and said 

Mr. President and Gentlemen : — 

We have come here to-night for no vain purpose, 
and, I may add* for no purpose of mere festive enjoy- 
ment. Although it is not to be admitted that there is 
any old person at this table, yet, it may be admitted, 
that we have been younger once ; and I think we are 
too old to exchange our homes and firesides, on such an 
inclement night as this, for mere festive scenes. 

We have come to do honor to the anniversary of a day 
which, seventy-two years ago, gave birth to an illustri- 
ous American citizen — our personal friend. We have 
come to rejoice that he was born ; to rejoice that he was 
permitted to add to the glory of his native country, and 
to rejoice in the belief that he will live forever upon the 
pages of his country's history. But, Mr. President and 
gentlemen, while we are permitted to rejoice at this 
event, our friend was too latel}^ an actor on the stage of 
life ; we have too recently felt the warm pulsations of 
life in his embrace ; that scene of solemn grandeur which 
closed his mortal life is too fresh in our remembrance to 
permit our joy to make the first approach to hilarity. 
Yet we are permitted to recall, and relate to each 
other reminiscences of passages in the- life of our friend, 



14 

of which each of us may have personal knowledge ; to 
relate these passages while we may, before that morrow 
comes, not distant, when the tongue of the witness shall 
be mute. 

What place, gentlemen, mo^e suitable for our purpose 
could have been selected, than the place in which we are 
assembled. In this house, in this very room, for a series 
of years we have been accustomed to meet him, and hold 
with him friendly communion ; to greet him, year after 
year, as he passed on to the scene of his public labors, 
and again to congratulate him on his return from the 
arena of great intellectual conflicts ; to bid him adieu as 
he was about to depart, for a season, from his native land, 
and to welcome him on his return, and hear him relate, 
as he only could relate, all he had seen, and heard and 
felt in foreign countries. We have met him here in joy 
and in sorrow ; now depressed with the prospect of pub- 
lic affairs, and now elated. Here we have seen him in 
all moods and circumstances ; here he has given vent to 
the warmest feelings of his heart ; here he has poured 
out the rich stores of his intellect. If, gentlemen, we 
could see a book in which was recorded every word that 
he ever uttered to either of us, in this house, exactly as 
he spoke it, it would be a book of no ordinary dimen- 
sions ; and I would not speak of the eloquent passages 
and grapliic descriptions it would contain ; of the refined 
taste, and^Eiiglish undefiled, that would adorn its pages ; 
and of the profound political, mojal, and even religious 
teachings they would impart ; all these I pass without a 
comment, but this I say, and I say it in the presence of 



15 

friends, gentlemen of integrity and honor, who will bear 
testimony to the truth of what I utter, that such a book 
would contain no line which the most ardent, anxious 
and fastidious friendship would wish to blot. Mr. Web- 
ster offended not in word or speech. 

Gentlemen, I suppose we are here to speak of Mr. 
Webster as we knew him, and relate facts and anecdotes 
in his personal history, which each may happen to know, 
and which, probably, in this way may be preserved for 
the use of others. 

It will be remembered, that in the year 1837, Mr. 
Webster, on the invitation of friends, delivered a speech 
in Niblo's Garden. Having had some correspondence 
with him before he came on to meet his friends on that 
occasion, he sent me the heads of this speech, in his own 
handwriting, which I have carefully preserved, and have 
here in my hand. They are very brief and comprehen- 
sive, and you will no doubt be gratified to hear the read- 
ing of them. 

"heads. 

" Constitution. — Expressions of attachment ; convic- 
tion of its importance, especially to New York ; dangers 
which threaten it from local feelings and other causes. 

" Currency. — A matter of high interest, especially to 
the industrious classes. Good government ought to look 
to it, as that government possess power to regulate com- 
merce (and exchange is an instrument of commerce,) and 
also the power of coining and fixing the value of coins. 
A bank in the city of New York the best measure. If not 



16 

adopted, something else ought to be done. Deranged 
currency prostitutes labor at the foot of capital. 

" Revenue. — It ought to be reduced ; and might be re- 
duced, safely, by a wise and discreet act, making proper 
discriminations, &c. 

^^ Public Lands. — National property — not to be given 
away — a wise and liberal policy to be pursued. Revenue 
from this source might be permanently assigned to the 
States, for great objects of public utility ; thus leaving the- 
support of government to revenues derived from customs; 
which would be abundantly adequate, and might be col- 
lected with such specific duties as would insure safety to 
manufacturing interests. 

''Distributions. — To be adopted only in case of neces- 
sity — much better to prevent accumulation by reducing 
revenue ; but distribution preferable to enormous accu- 
mulations in the bank. 

" Texas. — Its independence a matter o^fact, to be ad- 
mitted or denied, -according to evidence. I think we 
have been somewhat too hasty, y^i I believe Mexico will 
very likely abandon its attempt to maintain its authority 
over the province. 

' ' The annexation of Texas to the United States, thereby 
encouraging slavery by bringirig new slave states into the 
Union, never to be agreed to under any circumstances. 

" Other matters respecting slavery to be left just where 
the constitution leaves them. Abolition in the District 
of Columbia being a question of discretion, but there 
being no questio7i of the Constitutional power. 

''Government of the United States. — Not true, as a 



17 

general remark, that it has encroached on the states ; but 
the truth is, that in regard to the branches of t^is gov- 
ernment, inter sese, the Executive has encroached and 
is encroaching. 

' ' Patronage of the Government. — This is one of the most 
formidable of our evils. It enables power to regulate 
its own succession. Transmitted 'patronage is very much 
akin to hereditanj rule. Elections can hardly be free 
where there is such a mass oi private interest, having the 
control of puhUc means, and acting steadily to one ob- 
ject," &c., &c. 

These short propositions contain the substance of a 
speech which occupied more than two hours in the de- 
livery. It is not for the purpose of reminding j^ou of 
Mr. Webster's opinions upon public questions, at the 
time he spoke, but rather to furnish another example of 
his manner of preparation for great intellectual efforts. 
That preparation was distinguished by great thorough- 
ness. It ought to be known, especially by the educated 
young men of the country, that Mr. Webster never pre- 
sented his views to a deliberative body, or to the people, 
upon important questions, until they had been first fully 
considered and reconsidered by himself. Hence it 
was that Mr. Webster's speeches were more extensively 
published and read than any speeches ever delivered in 
the country: The reading public ascertained that the 
time and attention bestowed on his speeches were profit- 
ably bestowed. I remember very well, on the occasion 
of this speech, I took the liberty of saying to Mr. Web- 



18 

STER, " I wish 3^ou could contrive to embody in this speech 
some 0^ those short, comprehensive sayings of yours, 
like ' Union and liberty now and forever, one and in- 
separable.' Some of those watch-words of patriotism, 
those rallying cries that swell the heart of the nation 
whenever they are uttered," He said nothing in reply, 
but after the speech was delivered and published in the 
newspapers, he remarked, "I remembered what you 
said, and I reckon there is one sentence in the speech 
that will satisfy you, and he pointed to this one, ' One 

COUNTRY, ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE DESTINY.'" " YcS," I 

said, "that will do." " I^ow," said he, "I do not know 
that it is worth while to publish this speech in a pam- 
phlet form," for it had been extensively published in the 
newspapers, "but if friends should think of doing it — 
would it not be well to put this motto as a heading to 
the speech?" I said to a friend with me, on the com- 
mittee, a merchant — he is present at this table, and the 
most modest man here, " We must publish that speech 
in a pamphlet form, but this reception has cost a good 
deal of money, and such a publication will add not a lit- 
tle to the expense. Now, you know I am a lawyer, and 
will do the writing and talking, but you must do the pay- 
ing ; yet we must publish a pamphlet edition of not less 
than ten thousand copies." "Go ahead, said he, and 
when we were through the bills footed about a thousand 
dollars, which my friend instantly paid. That gentle- 
man, as I said, is here, but he would not allow me to 
pronounce his name for a thousand dollars more. Dr. 
Francis. — Name him. Mr. Ketcuum. — No sir! no sir! 



19 

I have no authority to do so ; but I may say that I have 
had something to do with the business men of New York 
in that connection, and I have always found that, though 
they are by no means attentive to public matters — they 
have not time to attend to them — yet, when they find a 
public man whom they can trust, whom they have proved 
worthy of confidence, there is never a lack of means to 
uphold and sustain him. [Applause.] 

Grentlemen, I talk without method, and I hope you 
will feel at liberty ^^to pursue the same course, since our 
main object is to relate facts within our own personal 
knowledge. You will remember, gentlemen, that Mr. 
Webster was made Secretary of State under General 
Harrison — that Harrison remained in office only one 
month, when he died, and was succeeded by the Vice- 
President, Mr. Tyler. All the members of Mr. Tyler's 
cabinet, except Mr. Webster, thought proper to resign. 
He was much censured by many of his political friends 
for not resigning at the same time. Mr. Webster thought, 
however, that he had an important work to perform, and 
I suppose he might have thought that he could perform it 
quite as well as any other man, and, therefore, it was best 
for him to remain in the cabinet. He did remain. Many 
very judicious political friends were of opinion that he 
ought to remain until the treaty with Lord Ashburton 
was negotiated, but then, as some advised, "With the 
very pen used in signing the treaty, you ought to write 
your resignation." Mr. Webster thought diff'erently. 
There was a treaty to be made with China, and a minis- 
ter to be instructed and sent out, and I should not won- 



20 

der if lie thought these matters could be regulated by ' 
him quite as well as any successor the President would 
appoint; he therefore determined not to resign until 
these instructions were prepared and the minister dis- 
patched. He remained to perform these services, and 
then resigned. I have now in my hand a letter, marked 
"private," dated May 1,1843, in which Mr. Webster 
says, "I shall leave the department, probably in eight 
days, altogether against my own judgment. You are 
clear that I have been right in staying in to this time. 
Six months hence you will see as clearly that I ought to 
have staid longer ; but the thing is settled." He left 
the cabinet ; he could have remained in it. Immediate- 
ly followed the negotiations for the admission of Texas. 
You remember how Texas was introduced — not by treaty, 
for two-thirds of the Senate would not consent to it ; but 
it was illegally introduced by legislation. What follow- 
ed? The war with Mexico, then the annexation of other 
territory, then the dispute about that territory which, in 
the Congress of 1849 and 1850, shook the foundations of 
this republic to their very centre. Mr. Webster looked 
on. Here was a result produced by a course of measures 
which he had strenuously and steadily opposed from first 
to last. He had nothing to say. The contest grew hot- 
ter and hotter ; and you remember, gentlemen, that 
the dissolution of this Union was familiarly spoken 
of in Congress, and this event seemed near at hand ; 
not, indeed, by any formal vote to that effect, but by 
stopping the machinery of government at Washington. 
For this state of excited feeling Mr. Webster was in no 



21 

way responsible 5 he had done nothing to produce 
it. But in this season of apprehension and alarm 
every eye was turned to him ; the universal and anxious 
inquiry was, what will Mr. Webster do ? He can 
save the country. He remained silent until the 7th 
of March, 1850, when he spoke, and said what, in his 
judgment, patriotism required him to say. The Union 
was the only guarantee for American liberty, and the 
Union must be preserved. That speech settled the ques- 
tion in Congress. That insured the passage of the com- 
promise measures, but something yet remained to be 
done, which no man could do as well as Daniel Wcb- 
STER. The popular voice must be brought to sanction 
the acts of the National Legislature ; these acts, unsup- 
ported by public opinion, would have been of little 
value. Mr. Webster, therefore, came directly before the 
people, and by letters, addresses, and speeches, appeal- 
ed to the popular mind and heart with more power and 
effect than all the public men of the country besides. 
Who does not remember his exertions here, in the State 
of New York ? His unsurpassed efforts at Buffalo, Syra- 
cuse, Albany and other towns and villages in the state ; 
in the very places where public sentiment most required 
to be enlightened. Who can forget that speech at Buf- 
falo, one of the most perfect models of popular eloquence 
to be found on record, which was delivered in the open 
air, with the rain pouring for two hours upon its author, 
then sixty-nine years old, and in feeble health ? New 
York was made right in all the departments of her gov- 
ernment ; her judiciary and her people came up to the 



22 

su23port of the compromise measures, and what state will 
find it convenient to array itself against the general gov- 
ernment when that government is supported by New 
York? 

Now, Mr. President and gentlemen, I am not about to 
defend Mr. Webster's course at this important era of his 
life ; he needs no defence here. Upon that subject I 
have nothing to say, but this I will say, and I know it as 
well as any man can judge the motives of another, 
Daniel Webster made the speech of the 7th March, 
1850, impelled by the highest convictions of duty. He 
was honest. He believed he was serving his country and 
his God. But from that day to the last hour of his life, 
he was followed by persecution of unsurpassed bitter- 
ness and malignity. He had known what it was, when 
by an intellectual effort, une quale d in this country, or 
perhaps in any other, he prostrated nullification; to make, 
in all future time, the disciples of that heresy his sworn 
enemies. He had experienced, through all his after life, 
the undying opposition of thousands of nominal political 
friends, whom he had offended by remaining in Mr. 
Tyler's cabinet, when he believed his duty to his coun- 
try was paramount to the claims of party. But after the 
7th March, 1850, he had to withstand the combined as- 
sault, of men holding extreme opinions, at the North, and 
the South, at the West and the East. In this attack 
ancient foes and ancient friends stood side by side, shoul- 
der to shoulder, vicing, each with the other, to destroy 
him. 

But, thank God, you, Mr. President, and all the genttle- 



23 

men atfthis table, stood by him, and I know how much he 
was consoled and comforted by your support — my know- 
ledge is derived from the most authentic source. Your 
support followed him through life, it clings now to his 
memory, and it has been manifested since his death in a 
manner equally delicate and affecting. Friends of Daniel 
Webster ! long and happy may each of your lives be, but 
whether long or short, the remembrance of what you 
have done for our departed friend shall increase the hap- 
piness of every hour of that life. 

Mr. President and gentlemen, this is not the place, and 
if it were, I am net the man, to speak of the character of 
Mr. Webster in connection with the question, which I 
regard of vast and solemn interest, touching his personal 
condition among the spirits of the departed. This ques- 
tion is already decided by One who knows the whole 
case, and who makes no mistakes in judgment. We need 
be very thankful that we live in a country where the 
authority of any earthly tribunal to canonize a man after 
he is dead is not admitted, nor yet to exclude him from 
everlasting salvation. But I may be permitted to say 
that Mr. Webster was a Christian statesman. Like 
Chatham, and Burke, and Washington, he regarded 
Christianity as the great conservative element of the 
state. More than any American statesman, among the 
living « or the dead, he improved all public occasions, 
when the topic could, with propriety, be introduced, to 
honor the Christian religion ; and he profoundly felt, and 
often acknowledged the deep obligations which American 
liberty was under to its pure and ennobling principles. 



24 

Daniel Webster was not more distinguished as %lie de- 
fender of the constitution of his country than as the sup- 
porter of the religion of his country. While his works 
remain no man can rob him of this honor. 

G-eneral Harrison became President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1841. Mr. Webster was 
then, for the first time, called to the service of his coun- 
try by the voice of the national government. The first 
act of the newly elected President was to deliver his in- 
augural address, before he was sworn into office. The 
last paragraph of that address is in these words : "I 
deem the present occasion sufficiently important and 
solemn to justify me in expressing to my fellow-citizens 
a profound reverence for the Christian religion, and a 
thorough conviction that sound morality, religious liber- 
ty, and a just sense of religious responsibility, are essen- 
tially connected with all true and lasting happiness ; and 
to that good Being who has blessed us by the gifts of 
civil and religious freedom, who watched over and pre- 
served the labors of our fathers, and has hitherto pre- 
served to us institutions far exceeding in excellence those 
of any other people, let us unite in fervently commend- 
ing every interest of our beloved country in all* future 
time." 

This paragraph, it is understood, was the sole produc- 
tion of Mr. Webster, the newly chosen Secretary of 
State, and was suggested exclusively by himself. I shall 
never forget the time when he said to me, his lustrous 
eye starting out from its deep socket, " I long since de- 
termined, sir, that if I ever should possess any power or 



. 2^ 

influence under the government, it should be exercised 
in the recognition by that government of the Christian 
religion. The very first opportunity was embraced, as 
we have seen, and used in a manner not less graceful 
than effective. 

Nor did Mr. Webster think a pure Christianity could 
be supported without the use of those means which 
Protestantism has adopted and employed. He was a 
great admirer and student of the Bible, and highly ap- 
proved the popular use of this book. 

Nor was he so idle as to suppose that Christianity could 
be maintained without an order of authorized and well 
instructed teachers of its doctrines, and when an attempt 
was made by a very rich, and I believe, a very well in- 
tentioned man in a neighboring city, but one utterly 
ignorant of the principles upon which our institutions 
rest, to disparage the Christian ministry, in a solemn tes- 
tamentary document, Mr. Webster came to the defence 
of that order with all the learning and ingenuity of a 
lawyer, the far-seeing views of a statesman, and the zeal 
of a sincere Christian. His vindication w^as complete, it 
was triumphant, and it may be safely predicted, that the 
intelligent members of that order, so ably represented 
here to-night, will be the guardians of his fame through 
all coming time. 

Mr, President, I have nothing more to offer. I have 
submitted these few particulars, connected with some 
reminiscences which I have been able to recall, and some 
documents which happen to be in my possession. No 

gentleman is expected to make a speech here to-night 
3 



26 

unless of his own free will, but I hope we shall all feel at 
liberty to talk freely. There are many gentlemen here 
who have held many interesting conversations with Mr. 
Webster, and it may well happen that some facts may be 
elicited on this occasion, from witnesses who state what 
they personally know, which may prove worthy of his- 
torical record. 

And now, Mr. President and gentlemen, although this 
is not a meeting of conviviality, and possibly one where 
a toast would not be appropriate, yet will you do me 
the favor to rise and silently unite in one sentiment : 



THE MEMORY OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS FRIEND, 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



Whereupon the whole company rose and honored the 
sentiment. 



The cominanication, subsequently received from Mr. 
Hall, is here inserted. 

New York, January 25th, 1854. 
To Hiram Ketchum, Esq., 

My Dear Sir : — You know full well how sincere my 
purpose was, to be present upon the occasion, when some 
of the friends of Mr. Webster, in New York, did honor 
to themselves, by commemorating the day of his birth as 
a solemn festival. You know, also, that this intention, on 
my part, was suddenly frustrated by a most unexpected 
family bereavement ; and that this, and this alone, pre- 



27 

vented me Irom taking part in a demonstration of wliicli 
my heart was full. 

Had I been present with jou and the other true 
friends of that great statesman, I should have addressed 
you in words to the following effect ; for no speaker can 
express himself on pajjer, after an occasion has passed 
away, as he would have expressed himself, when his mind 
was excited and his thoughts impelled by the force of 
surrounding circumstances. But the outline of that 
which it was my purpose to say, was substantially, as 
follows. 

Very sincerely yours, . 

J. PRESCOTT HALL. 

Gentlemen — Friends of Mr. Webster : 

When we consider the associations connected with 
this place and remember the times gone by, an emotion 
of melancholy must naturally come over our minds, which 
cannot be wholly dispelled, even by the circumstances of 
the present occasion. Under this roof, we have many 
times sat side by side, as we sit now, with an American, 
who made us proud of our nativity ; nor can any one 
present, forget the sensations which have thrilled through 
his bosom when Daniel Webster discoursed before us 
and with us, upon the great themes which usually occu- 
pied his profound and philosophic mind. 

Alas, gentlemen, that voice will be heard no more 
again forever ; but the remembrance of it will remain, 
not only during our time and probation, but will go 
down to distant and countless generations yet unborn. 



28 

The lame of Mr. Webster has now become one of the 
treasures of the whole country. Although Ijorn in the 
north, breathing its pure atmosphere, educated in north- 
ern schools and moulded upou northern forms, so as to 
present the magnificent model of a northern man, he was, 
nevertheless, the man of the nation also. 

His intellect, like his figure, was massive and grand. 
Can any gentleman now present ever forget the dignity 
of his utterance, the illumination of his eye when kindled 
by the excitement of his own thoughts, or the energy 
with which those thoughts poured forth in words, that 
burned like coals of living fire ? 

I do not rise, to pronounce an eulogium upon the 
greatest man we have ever known, or ever shall know ; 
but to recall to your minds the fall recollection of the 
past, that we may understand not only what we have 
had, but also what we have lost. 

' I have often thought that Mr. Webster, dying, as he 
did, in the perfection of his intellect, in the fullness of 
his fame, and before he had " said any thing unworthy of 
himself," did not die prematurely; and yet there was ' 
something on his mind, and clearl}^ within his contem- 
plation, wdiich makes me regret that he could not have 
been spared a little longer, to accomplish a great pur- 
pose, which he certainly entertained. He intended 
to write a history of the Constitution of the United 
States. 

One of the most striking pictures which I ever saw, 
hung, ten years ago, in the Louvre, among the Spanish 
collections of the late King of France. 



20 

It was by MuRiLLo, and roprosciitod Saint Boniven- 
TURA writing his own memoirs. The monkisli legend was, 
that the saint died before he had time to complete them, 
and had no other regret at leaving the world, except that 
his memoirs would be left unfinished. Thereupon, after 
death, life was restored to Saint Boniventura for three 
days, in order that he might finish that work which he 
had so much at heart. 

If it were permitted, I could have wished that Mr. 
Webster, also, might have been spared to complete a 
work which might, perhaps, have been his greatest ; for 
there is no one here to doubt, if Mr. Webster had fixed 
his mind upon this high theme, that he would have written 
the history as he alone could write it, and in the only 
manner in which it should have been written. 

You all know that he was perfectly master of the 
whole matter. His memory was full of it. It had been 
the subject, not only of his constitutional studies, but of 
his most splendid forensic eftorts. 

It was this perfect, copious, and complete knowledge 
of the history of the constitution which enabled him to 
reply, without premeditation, to the very able speech of 
Mr. Hayne ; a reply without parallel in oratory, and ff\r 
beyond, in my judgment, the renowned compositions 
which have brought the fame of Demosthenes and Cicero, 
through twenty centuries, down to our own times and 
contemplation. 

It would be wrong to say that Mr. Webster made that 
great speech without preparation. He never spoke 
without preparation, for his mind was always full of the 



30 ' 

various subjects upon which he discoursed ; but he often 
spoke without au}^ opportunity to arrange his thoughts 
beforehand, although they never failed to marshal them- 
selves in order, and like trained soldiers, fall into their 
proper places when called upon to vindicate his purposes. 

I once asked him, in this very house, upon a social 
occasion, at which many of you assisted, I mean the 
time when Mr. Webster met us immediately after his 
return from England, and when we listened to his words 
as if they had proceeded from some Delphic oracle, I 
asked him how much of preparation he had had for his 
answer to Mr. Hayne. 

" In one sense," said he, "I had no preparation what- 
ever, but in another sense I w^is fully prepared. 

** I did not know what words I should use when I rose 
upon my feet, nor the order of argument in which I 
should proceed. These came to me under the excitement 
of debate. But I understood the subject as well as I 
was capable of understanding it. I had studied it, I 
had often urged similar arguments before other tribu- 
nals, and in this true sense of the term I was thoroughly 
prepared." 

So in relation to his contemplated history ; for that he 
was also thoroughly prepared. 

In conversation at the house of one who stood in the 
relation of intimate friendship with Mr. Webster, I 
heard him, for the first time, speak of this great purpose. 

Other gentlemen whom I see before me were there 
also, and can bear witness to the correctness of what 
I say. 



31 

You know that it was Mr. Webster's habit to look at 
all subjects with his intellect, and this theme he had 
contemplated in the same manner. His iron memory 
was stored with the necessary facts, and he said he had 
in his possession all the materials necessary for com- 
pleting the work. 

He had brought it so far to maturity as to give it form, 
shape and substance in his mind, for that element of 
immortality in him was never idle. Whether at home, 
in the bosom of his family, walking over his pastures, or 
pacing with solemn steps and . slow upon the shores of 
the loud moaning sea, Mr. Webster's thoughts were 
always full of action. 

With these habits of considering and studying, he had 
established the dates of his history, both for beginning 
and conclusion ; the number of volumes which it would 
require ; the number of chapters each volume would con- 
tain, and the probable amount of matter in the whole. 

Nay, he had gone much further than this, for he had 
ascertained what each chapter was to contain ; and I 
call upon witnesses now before me to say whether he 
did not give us a table of contents of several of the chap- 
ters which were to make part of his history ! 

The work was to be comprised within three volumes ; 
to commence with the peace of 1783, with a preliminary 
chapter, leading to that great event. And which of us 
can be persuaded that this preliminary chapter would 
not have given, not only the most cond-ensed, but the 
best account of the, causes which led to the Revolution, 
which has ever been written ? 



32 

From the peace of 1783, the work was to proceed 
through that series of years which terminated with the 
administration of General Washington, of which there 
was to be a full account ; and in this connection I asked 
him how he would treat the famous proclamation of 
neutrality? To this. he replied, "I think that the most 
delicate part of my subject, but under no circumstances 
will I abandon Greneral Washington." 

Knowing, as we all do, the entire fitness of Mr. Web- 
ster to perform this great task, why may we not indulge 
in regret that he did not live to perform it ? He fixed 
the very time when he would commence his work, name- 
ly, the adjournment of Congress, in 1850, when he had 
resolved, as he informed us, to retire from pul)lic life and 
take up his permanent abode at Marshfield. 

The sudden and unexpected death of General Taylor, 
and Mr. Webster's call to the State Department, de- 
ranged his plans for a season ; but I have reason to 
know, from the last conversation I ever had with him, 
that he had not abandoned his purpose. 

A gentleman now present, who listened to the conver- 
sation to which I refer, was so wrought up by the 
masterly st3de in which Mr. Webster -treated this sub- 
ject, that he made a direct and most liberal propo- 
sition for the first volume, with a still more liberal one 
for the second and third, when completed. Mr. R. M. 
Blatchford said that he would give Mr. Webster fifteen 
thousand dollars for the manuscript of the first volume, 
and tliirty-nve thousand more when tlie work was com- 
pleted. 'Til do it, sir,-' AVas the reply; and ho ivould 



33 

have done it, and we should have had^"^ Histunj of the 
Constitution of the United States, Z>y Daniel Webster," if 
he had not been struck down before his time by that last 
enemy, who cannot be resisted by mortal man. 

When I consider these things, and remember all the 
past, I am tempted to adopt the language of Fisher 
Ames, and say, " My heart, penetrated with the recol- 
lection of the man, grows liquid as I speak, and I could 
pour it out like water," 



Rev. Dr. Adams, being called upon, made the follow- 
ing remarks : 

Mr. Chairman : 

I respond to the sentiment uttered by our friend 
Mr. Ketchum, that the emotions inspired by this occa- 
sion are of a mixed character. We are «tssembled on the 
anniversary of that day which gave birth to one whom 
we loved and honored. It is an occasion for rendering; 
joyful thanks to the benignant Providence who has hith- 
erto watched over the fortunes of our native land, I 
feel disposed, sir, joyfully to congratulate our country on 
having given birth to so illustrious a man ; a man so sig- 
nally fitted and prepared, by every quality, to meet those 
great exigencies through which our country has passed 
during the continuance of his mortal -life. We congratu- 
late ourselves, amidst many pleasant memories, that we 
were permitted to enjoy his personal acquaintance and 

society ; and standing here, at the head-spring of a 
4 



34 

stream which run^ so far, and swells into so vast a flood, 
I believe that this anniversary of his birth will hereafter 
be honored by all forms of most joyful remembrance. 

But, sir, we all feel that our bereavement is too recent 
for festive congratulations. For myself, I have hardly 
yet been able to complete m}^ self-adjustment to the con- 
viction that he is actually and forever gone. When he 
fell, it was not like the giant oak, in an open pasture, 
entirely alone ; rather was it, as when the monarch of 
the forest falls, carrying to the ground with him the trees 
that grew up at his side, tearing and breaking the 
branches which were interlaced with his own, and crush- 
ing the vines which leaned upon his strength. The oc- 
casion, therefore, is not one for light-hearted frivolity. 
We are met as thoughtful men, to remember one who 
was himself, on grave occasions, grave and thoughtful, and 
to recall and recount some of the lessons which his great- 
ness has left us» 

I said that he was actually and forever gone. I recall 
that expression. He is still with us. His life is not lost 
because withdrawn from our vision. It is not with us, 
with our country, or with the world, as though he had 
never lived. The true life of Mr. Webster has as yet 
but just begun. The stars in the firmament exert their 
strong attraction upon the planet in which we live as 
much by day, when we do not see them, as by night, 
when we beliold tlieir brilliancy. The mere accident of 
death does not subtract fi'om tlie power of good and 
great men, but rather adds to their inihicnce and to their 
ganctitv. In the words of Mr. Webster himself, memo- 



35 

rable, as his words always were, for their felicity,. and as 
we now interpret them, prophetic of tlieir own applica- 
tion to himself; " A superior and commanding human in- 
tellect, a truly great man, when Heaven vouchsafes so 
rare a gift, is not a temporary Ilame, burning bright for 
awliile and then expiring, giving place to returning dark- 
ness. It is rather a spark of fervent heat, as well as radi- 
ant light, with power to enkindle the common mass of 
human mind ; so that when it glimmers in its own decay, 
and linally goes out in death, no night follows, but it 
leaves the world all light, all on fire from the potent con- 
tact of its own spirit. Bacon died, but the human under- 
standing, roused by the touch of his miraculous wand, to 
a perception of the true philosophy, and the just mode 
of inquiring after truth, has kept on its course success- 
fully and gloriously. I^ewton died, yet the courses of 
the spheres are still known, and they yet move on in the 
orbits which he saw and described for them in the infinity 
of space." To which we add, Webster dies, but consti- 
tutional law and government maintain their stability, 
diffuse their blessings, and advancing ages bear testi- 
mony to his greatness. 

The posthumous influence of good and great men has 
this advantage, that, at death, every thing that is earthly 
and defective ; every thing that belongs to sect, party or 
section, drops off, and that which remains is the pure, 
simple, bright element of goodness. There are fixed 
stars, in our astronomy we are told, so high that the 
whole diameter of the earth does not make one discern- 
able angle to the eye of beholders, though separated 



36 

from one another by all that breadth of space. It 
would seem that this is one of the chief designs of Divine 
Providence, in the gift of men of extraordinary endow- 
ments — they are held as the common property of the race, 
and serve to anchor our sympathies in a common patriot- 
ism and humanity. The sensation which was produced 
in this country when Webster died, exceeded and tri- 
umphed over all distinctions of party, section and place. 
We have not forgotten that some of the most graceful 
tributes to his memory were uttered by men of opposite 
political partialities, but who were surpassed by none in 
honoring the wonderful workmanship of God. These 
political differences and antagonisms were, for once, 
pressed into a friendly and beautiful service ; just as you 
have seen the clouds, which hung around the sun through 
the whole day, in the hour of his setting, form a mag- 
nificent pavilion of gold and crimson for his reception, 
reflecting the glories of that luminary which they could 
neither hide nor hinder. 

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, while the representa- 
tives of law and justice delight ever to speak of him who 
was the admiration of the forum ; while the representa- 
tives of commerce, some of whom I see at this table, 
will not withhold their tribute from him, to whose legis- 
lation they owe so much for protection and success in 
their pursuits, may I be permitted to say a single word 
as to the posthumous influence of the tvritings of Mr. 
Webster, so happily preserved in a permanent form, and 
presented to the public under such auspicious circum- 
stances. 



37 

These literary productions are of great variety of form 
and topic. Our friend, the Chairman, was just saying to 
me how remarkable it was that in that memorable tour 
through our state, where Mr. Webster so often addressed 
the people upon the same general subject, there was 
nothing like repetition in his addresses. In his writings 
there is nothing like stale monotony or wearisome repe- 
tition. On great subjects and great occasions, Mr. Web- 
ster's mind moved on wheels, not on hinges ; and it 
might surprise one, glancing at the table of contents of 
his writings, to see what a variety of topic is there intro- 
duced. They relate to constitutional jurisprudence and 
to the common matters of agriculture ; to the nicest ques- 
tions of international law, and to the humblest forms of 
the mechanic arts. He has celebrated the virtues of our 
forefathers, and bequeathed sage counsels to our children. 
The laws of evidence he has explained in the courts of 
justice ; and the laws, rights and benefits of commerce 
he has urged on exchange. The lessons of history he has 
elaborated for associations of the learned, and the laws 
of trade he has made simple to the humblest capacity. 
While there is scarcely a topic which came under his 
notice as a citizen, as a jurist, as a legislator, which has 
not been illustrated and enriched by his thoughts, one 
of the most elaborate of all his compositions, (I rejoice 
that our friend has alluded to it,) one which presents in- 
disputable signs of the most careful preparation in the 
adjustment of its thoughts and in the choice of its words, 
is that argument in which he has expressed his sentiments 
concerning the Christian ministry, and the religious in- 



38 

struction of the young. I have often thought of suggest- 
ing to those who delight at every opportunity to do honor 
to his name, that a cheap edition of that well studied, 
compact argument in the case of Mr. Girard's wdll, should 
be issued for general distribution, embodying, as it does, 
in a compendious form, his deliberate sentiments con- 
cerning the most important of all subjects. 

In making a distinct reference to that production, I 
wish to couple with it the remark that throughout his 
voluminous writings you cannot find one word of irreve- 
rence or disrespect concerning the truth or ordinances of 
God. His great mind needed God and eternity for the 
material of his thoughts. You search in vain for a single 
sentence, the tendency of wdiich could be to foster doubt 
or to induce a skeptical spirit ; but, on the other hand, 
in all those productions which constitute his highest fame 
as a writer and a speaker, some of the most remarkable 
passages are those in which he has extolled the Christian 
religion as the great hope, protection, ornament and 
blessing of man. 

Another thing to be said of his writings, as a part of 
English literature, relates to their remarkable purity and 
simplicity of style. There is an entire absence of all 
pretense and affectation. There is not a particle about 
them of what Lord Bacon calls "seeming wise." Their 
power is not in "great swelling words,'' or an accumu- 
lation of superlative adjectives ; but in great and simple 
thoughts. 

Though some of the paragraphs from his pen, for poe- 
try of conception and magnificence of expression ; for the 



39 

march and music of their rhythm, are equal to any thing 
in all the affluence of the English language ; and thougli, 
as has been justly observed, he never concealed the care 
with which he elaborated many of liis sentences, yet the 
one great characteristic of his language is a pure, strong, 
transparent simplicity. Common people have a thousand 
times unconsciously pronounced the liiglicst encomium 
upon his immortal expositions of law and statesmanship, 
when they have affirmed, as I have heard them affirm, 
that it seemed to them that they could have said the 
same things in precisely the same way — so simple, so 
easy, so natural did they appear. It is the highest proof 
of human genius to make that appear easy which is dif- 
ficult. Your polished, perfect machinery works easily 
to the eye ; it is your half-finished, crazy mechanism that 
makes the noise and the clatter. 

Mr. Webster's familiarity with every-day life aided 
the development of this great honesty of speech. We 
all know what contempt he had for what was meretricious 
and artificial. Nature, in the miracle of the morning, 
in the glory of the stars, in the vastness of the sea, in 
the beauty of the woods and fields, in tlie honest faces of 
animals, dispossessed him of all pretense and affectation, 
and breathed u23on him the truthfulness of lier own calm 
and mighty existence. 

Sir, we shall hear his voice no more. His pen will 
never move again ; but the service which both have 
rendered will be immortal. It will be treasured among 
the crown jewels of English literature. It belongs to all 
who speak the English tongue. As we, in our boyhood, 



40 

were accustomed to rehearse those gems of forensic elo- 
quence with which Chatham charmed the British Senate, 
or Patrick Henry roused this nation to freedom, so will 
our children and children's children read and speak the 
glowing words which Webster uttered on Plj^mouth Rock, 
on Bunker Hill, in Faneuil Hall, at the National Capi- 
tol, and in all the various places which were ever graced 
by his presence. One of the best forms of eulogy that 
will ever be pronounced upon the writings of Daniel 
Webster, will be the suffused eye, the heaving chest, 
the dilating form with which not only the school-boy of 
future ages and remote territories, but the patriots 
of foreign climes will repeat his noble apostrophies to 
truth^ liberty, law and justice ; catching the pathos of 
his great words and wondering how great and kindly a 
heart he must have had as the reservoir of all the emotion 
with which his speech is freighted. 

His form lives on the canvas, and it will be perpetu- 
ated in bronze. His noble head will be chiseled in 
marble. Metropolitan Avealth will be ambitious of rear- 
ing monuments to his fame on the exchange and in the 
public square ; but the best monument to his greatness is 
that which he has reared in his own writings — his strong, 
earnest, simple, manly, religious, English thoughts, for 
these are a perfect transcript of himself. 



41 

Tlie followiiio' letter was received from Gov. Bradisii : 



'& 



New York, January 18, 1854. 
Dear Sirs: 

I find, at this late hour, that the uncertainty of my 
being in the city this evening, or, if I should be, that en- 
gagements, which I can neither postpone nor put aside, 
will necessarily deprive me of the high gratification I had 
promised myself in uniting with you, and other personal 
friends, in the proposed festival in honor of the birthday 
of Webster. This occasion, could I have participated in 
it, would have been to me one of deepest interest. It is 
eminently fitting and proper that this anniversary of the 
birthday of Webster, the second only since the hand of 
affection gently laid the green turf upon his fresh grave, 
should be duly and appropriately noticed by his personal 
friends. It will be to them an occasion as memorable, as 
it will be gratifying to all. Each one will bring, to this 
solemn festival to-night, some hiteresting reminiscence, 
or offer some appropriate thought, which together will 
form a living memorial of the departed, and thus tend 
to perpetuate his image among us. 

It was a beautiful custom of the ancients, that when 
they passed the fresh grave of an illustrious deceased, 
they threw upon it a pebble ; till, at length, a monument 
to the memory of the departed came to be erected by 
these humble offerings of affection and regard. 

In like manner the friends of Webster will come to- 
gether this evening, not only to mingle their warm sym- 
pathies and revive the sweet memories of the past, but 
5 



42 

with the offerings of affectionate hearts, to erect an en- 
during memorial to him whom we loved and have lost — 
lost, did I say? Webster "still lives." He lives, not 
only in the hearts of his friends, but in the grateful 
recollection of his country, and in the admiration of the 
world. He lives, too, in the noble monuments which his 
own life has erected ; in the eminent public services he 
rendered ; the great principles of constitutional liberty 
and public policy he advocated ; and in the unnumbered 
blessings which have flowed from these upon his country 
and the age. 

It was the fortune of few of his cotemporaries to par- 
ticipate so largely, and become personally so intimately 
identified, in those leading events and great measures of 
the day, which ever shape the course and determine the 
destiny of nations. Few men, indeed, have lived in any 
country, in any age, who have made so deep an impres- 
sion uj)on the times in which they lived, or have left be- 
hind them more brilliant records, or more enduring 
monuments of their lives. Few, too, have been in their 
lifetime more fortunate than Webster, in the just appre- 
ciation of his merits by his cotemporaries, or in the judg- 
ment of the world upon his public life. He lived amidst 
the hourly manifestations of the admiration of his fellows. 
But, full as was his life of proofs of the high estimation 
of the world of his talents and public services, yet his 
death alone disclosed the truth which his life, brilliant and 
patriotic as it was, had not so fully established, viz., the 
strong hold he had upon the affections of his country. 

It had suited llie interested views and personal or party 



43 

objects of some, while they freely conceded to Mr. Web- 
ster the admiration of his country, to deny to him its 
affection. The impression was sought to be made that 
he was not popular. His death came to disabuse the 
public mind of this fallacy, and to dissipate to the winds 
these interested but unfounded pretences. With, per- 
haps, a single exception, no death of a public man has 
occurred in our country, which so profoundly moved the 
heart of the nation, in its lowest depths of feeling, as did 
that 0^ Webster. As the presence of no one, in his life- 
time, was, on all occasions, greeted with stronger mani- 
festations of respect, or warmer expressions of popular 
favor, so the death of no one has produced profounder 
or more universal sensations of grief. Both his life and 
his death, alike, furnish uner/ing proof of the strong hold 
he had, not only upon the admiration, but upon the 
gratitude and warm affection of his country, and estab- 
lish, beyond a question, his high and universal popu- 
larity. By popularity, I mean that high public favor 
which is founded upon conceded talents and eminent 
services ; which follows great and good deeds ; is the 
basis of public confidence, and true element of personal 
power : which gives to individual opinion its practical 
force ; to counsel its character of wisdom, and to personal 
influence and control, their strength. It is true, that to 
that ephemeral and evanescent popularity, which is won 
without merit, and lost without cause ; which a breath 
may blow up, and a breath destroy ; Webster was as 
indifferent, as he was a stranger. His manly nature 
could not stoop to flatter the passions or humor the pre- 



44 

juclices of the people in order to win their temporary 
favor. Neither his true regard for them, nor his own 
self-respect, would permit him to descend so low. He 
dealt more frankly and more respectfully with them. 
His appeals were ever to their intelligence, and his ad- 
dresses to their reason. His aim with them was ever 
a permanent conviction of truth, rather than the transient 
favor of an hour. In the accomplishment of his elevated 
purpose, reason and argument were always the means he 
employed. These he wielded with unsurpassed effect. 
This formed the distinguishing characteristic, as it con- 
stituted the forte of AYebster. He possessed, in a more 
eminent degree than any man living in his day, the ability 
of concentrating all the powers of a great mind upon any 
given subject at any given time ; and whether that sub- 
ject was a question of interpretation of constitutional 
law, a principle of public policy, or a point of national 
interest, the subject, in his hands, became exhausted ; 
and, leaving no argument unused or unanswered, and no 
doubt unresolved, he presented it as in the focus of a 
burning lens, till the truth became so clear and brilliant 
as to flash conviction upon every mind, and lead the 
judgment of all captive. In this lay the great secret 
of the strong hold Webster had upon the admiration 
and confidence of the country. This, with the distin- 
guished services he had rendered, the acknowledged 
purity and self-sacrificing character of his patriotism, 
and the lustre which his brilliant talents and public life 
had shed upon the name and character of his country 
and his kind, constituted the solid basis of the popular 



45 

sentiment in his favor. His counsel in public allairs had 
come to be oracular, and was received as the dictate of wis- 
dom ; his opinions became axioms ; and his striking ex- 
pressions passed into proverbs. These are all embalmed, 
in all their truthfulness, simplicity and massiveness, in 
his own native Saxon, which he loved so well. That 
noble language will, to all future time, preserve those 
gems of thought and expression with which he so en- 
riched it ; history will perpetuate his life ; and the 
future, as the present, will be forever familiar with his 
fame. 

But, while those whom the festival of this evening 
will bring together, share largely with the whole country 
in its admiration of the talents, and its gratitude for the 
public services of the illustrious deceased, and sympathize 
deeply in the general grief at his loss, there is a point in 
which both the life and the death of Webster touch them 
more nearly, and give increased intensity both to their 
admiration and their grief. It was within this circle of 
personal, devoted and recognized friends, and in the 
very place of their assembling this evening, that their 
distinguished compeer and guest, as he was, from time 
to time, released from the arduous labors of tli# Senate ; 
and, for the moment, freed from the cares of state and 
the oppressive weight of public affairs, was wont to come 
for needful relaxation and unrestrained social communion. 
It was here that he was greeted with the cordiality and 
confidence of true friendship. Here, in the bosom of 
that confidence, heart met heart, and truth, free from the 
disguises of caution, mirrored her own image in all its 



46 

simple and beautiful lineaments. Here the genial nature 
of Webster, in its gentler moods, released from the con- 
ventionalities of general intercourse, warmed and luxu- 
riated, as none but such a nature could, until he created 
around him a sympathetic atmosphere, redolent of intel- 
lectual joy and good fellowship. 

But the charm of this sweet communion is broken. 
The attractive centre of this circle is removed from its 
sphere. Webster has passed away. But, even in his 
departure, he has left an inappreciable record behind 
him. Great as he was in his life, he was still greater in 
his death. Brilliant as was that life in its passage, it 
was still more so in its termination ; and while the former 
will never cease to excite our admiration, the instruction 
of the latter should be garnered up among the dearest 
memorials of his name. 

But, instead of simply addressing you a note of apolo- 
gy, I perceive that I am in danger of writing you an essay, 
and therefore, with deep sympathies in your proposed 
festival, and its objects. 

I remain, as always, 
Dear Sirs, 
* With great truth, yours, 

L. BRADISH. 

To J. PJIESCOTT HALL, 
SmNEY BROOKS, 
THOMAS TILESTON, 
R. M. BLATCHFORD, and 
A. C. KINGSLAND, Esquires. 

Committee, 4*c., ^c. 



47 

The following letter was received from 
Charles O'Conor, Esq. : 
Gentlemen : 

It is with deep regret that I find myself unable to 
participate in celebrating, at the Astor House, on the 
18th instant, the anniversary of Daniel Webster's birth. 

I regard the occasion as one of deep moment. No 
true American can be insensible to its dignity and im- 
pressiveness. On the return of Daniel Webster's natal 
day, we, his persoual friends, will lay aside our private 
grief; obliterate, as ftir as possible, all memory of it, and 
resolve, henceforth, to contemplate him only as the pat- 
riot statesman whose life reflected honor upon our coun- 
try, and whose birth has made another sacred day in our 
national calendar. 

Daniel Webster was a jurisconsult and an advocate ; 
most profound in the one department, of matchless skill 
and eloquence in the other. At any time within a quarter 
of a century preceding his departure from among us, had 
it been inquired, at an}^ place inhabited by civilized men, 
who was the greatest lawyer in America, his name w^ould 
have been the ready and unhesitating response. He 
was a lawgiver and an executive minister, exercising in 
each capacity the highest functions of statesmanship. 
Had the citizen, who of all his countrymen was least at- 
tached to his political opinions, been asked who was the 
most eminent and able statesman in America, the same 
answer would have been given. If we pass from circum- 
stances like these, which are in some sense external, and 
contemplate, in its simple majesty, his personal and in- 
dividual character, we find the same exalted impress. 



48 

He was an American of that primitive stock which is the 
basis and archetype of the American name ; and to the 
more general inquiry, who was the first man in America — 
wherever and to whomsoever addressed — the answer, it 
may be confidently affirmed, would still have been the 
same — Daniel Webster. The first in his profession, the 
foremost in capacity for public service, the embodiment 
of all that was most admirable and excellent in the men- 
tal and moral constitution of his countrymen — such was 
Daniel Webster. By the common consent of men during 
his life, by the universal grief of his country at his death, 
by the impartial, the eternal voice of history, speaking 
to all future time, such was, such will be the fame of 
Daniel Webster. 

Mere intellectual power may exist, and command only 
our admiration, without awakening the kindlier emotions ; 
and it requires a closer view of Daniel Webster to dis- 
cern the feature which attached to him the alTections of 
all true Americans. 

He was fostered in the birth-place of American liberty, 
and drank, in early manhood, its invigorating inspiration. 
He was a republican and a patriot by inheritance. By 
the example of early associations, by the instinctive ten- 
dencies of a mind incapable of acting otherwise than in 
harmony with the promptings of conscience and duty, 
his life was uniformly devoted to the conservation of his 
country's institutions. As a fond parent would guard, 
perhaps too tenderly, the steps of a beloved child, he 
watched over the destinies of this ivpublic with intense 
anxiety, and willi a single aim. This is proved by irre- 
sistible evidence. He was the i'riond of liberty, yet he 



49 

HQver assented to jeopard the peace of these States by- 
extending its area here, or interfering for its establish- 
ment elsewhere. He was a believer, most certainly, in 
political progress ; for he venerated, nay, worshipped, 
almost to idolatry, our own newly founded constitution — 
a creation of his own day — yet he evidently regarded 
political progress, in respect to fundamentals, as having 
attained its utmost practical advance. The American 
statesman, in his judgment, found his most proper em- 
jDloyment in adapting our frame of government, as it is, 
to the growifig wants and varying exigencies of society. 
Conservation, not reconstruction, was the brief and 
emphatic maxim which, according to his views, embodied 
the sum of patriotic duty. He was imbued, from earliest 
youth, with the opinion that negro slavery was incom- 
patible with justice ; yet, when late in life this strong 
and abiding conception, which had grown with his growth 
and strengthened with his strength, appeared to him as 
likely, if rigorously acted upon, to conflict with that duty 
which he had ever regarded as primary and paramount — 
the preservation of this republic — the struggle was brief. 
He felt that the course which his heart dictated was des- 
tined to weaken personal ties most dearly cherished — to 
exhibit apparent inconsistency — to cast down his image 
from many altars, and to drive away hosts of worshippers ; 
but these considerations were not allowed to prevail. 
Nothing could have prevailed against the dominant idio- 
syncrasy — the master passion of "his soul — love for his 
country as an entirety — love for, devotion to, its con- 
stitution. 

6 



50 

Herein lay the strong affinity that in life and in death 
bound together, with links indissoluble, the heart of this 
illustrious statesman and the heart of his country. 

I do not- purpose to vindicate his public acts. I do 
not intend to express a coincidence with all his opinions, 
or an approval of his course of action, even in the par- 
ticulars referred to. Neither do I urge a concurrence 
upon others. We can admire patriotism without assent- 
ing to tlie precise form of its development. I only mean 
to say that Daniel Webster's entire being was devoted 
to his country and her existing institutions. . Naught that 
seemed to conflict with either could command his rever- 
ence. He looked upon the constitution of this Union 
in the original form and stature wherewith it sprang from 
the victorious battle-field of the Revolution, as heaven's 
richest gift to man, as an heritage of l:)eatitude to his 
country, which should remain intact, unaltered and un- 
alterable. 

This known characteristic — devoted love of country — 
exemplified in all the most prominent act'ions of his life, 
consecrated in sufferings and sacrifices, and sanctified in 
the unfailing fidelity of his dying hour — brought his 
whole country weeping to his obsequies. It has inter- 
woven with his fame for intellectual greatness, the name 
of patriot. It has won the love and veneration of his 
countrymen. They will cherish his memory forever. 
I am, gentlemen, witli great respect, 
Yotir obedient servant, 

CH. O'CONOR. 

To T. l'J?i;SCOTT nAIJ., Ks,|., and others, 

Committee. 



51 

The Ibllowiiiu" letter was received IVoni Hon. Cornelmis 
W. Lawrence. 

January IStli, 1854. 
Gentlemen : 

I regret, exceecliugiy, my inability to meet the 
friends of Mr. Webster this evening, as 1 was in some 
sense pledged to do, but indispensable domestic engage- 
ments forbid me that pleasure. 

Nothing, in my judgment, can be more appropriate, 
and, I may add, more just, than for the American people 
to honor the name and memory of Daniel Webster ; 
for we all participate in the honor which he has conferred 
upon his country. 

When Mr. Webster's great ett'ort was made, in 1830, 
to prostrate nullification, I deemed it my duty, although 
as you know, I did not belong to the same political party 
with him, to unite with other citizens of New York, in 
conferring public honor upon Mr. Webster for this ser- 
vice, and I have never seen occasion to regret it ; his 
political course, from that time to the day of his death, 
justified the opinion I then formed of his ability and his 
patriotism. ■ 

I cannot better express my feelings on hearing that 
our illustrious countryman was no' longer numbered 
among the living, than by adopting the sx^ntiments em- 
"braced in the resolutions passed unanimously hy the 
Democratic Republican General Committee, which I beg 
leave to transcribe : 

''Resolved, That estimating civil liberty as the first of 



52 

earthly blessings, and the Constitution of these United 
States as the ark of its safety for our countrymen, and of 
its promise to the nations yet lingering in political bond- 
age, we receive, with emotions of profoundest sorrow, 
the melancholy announcement that Daniel Webster, 
who was but yesterday the most eminent citizen of this 
republic, and of that constitution the most illustrious 
defender, has ceased to live. 

''Resolved, That, as in life, when he stood forth a cham- 
pion of the constitution and a savior of the Union, we 
compromised all differences upon minor points of opinion, 
and yielded to Daniel Webster all that political organi- 
zation would permit — admiration for his majestic intel- 
lect — applause for the brilliant display of his genius ; 
' gratitude, deep and sincere, for his patriotic services ; so, 
in this sad and solemn hour, when the separation of his 
mighty spirit from earth has obliterated forever all party 
lines from between us, we record the heart-felt expression 
of our mournful regret for his loss, and pray our brethren 
in affliction — the friends of freedom throughout the 
world — to receive and enshrine it with their own." 

These are the sentiments which I shall always delight 
to cherish for Daniel Webster. 

Very respectfully yours, 

. C. W. LAWRENCE. 

To J. PRESCOTT HALL, 

THOMAS TILESTON, Esquires, and others, 

Committee, fyc. 



53 

Mr. Ketchum. — Allow me to say that tho judiciary is 
well and ably represented here, and on tlieir behalf we 
should be pleased to hear from Judge Duer. 

Judge Duer, in few words, returned thanks for the 
toast, and excused himself on the ground of physical in- 
ability, from extendmg his remarks ; availing himself, 
however, of the privilege of seniority, he called upon his 
junior, Mr. Justice Campbell to supply the deficiency. • 

Judge Campbell. — My senior brother knows very 
well, Mr. President, that it is not the practice in our 
court to pronounce judgment in important cases without 
due deliberation.. He is well advised that such delibe- 
ration in this case has not been had. "We both of us came 
here from arduous labors in court during the day, and 
without preparation. But my very excellent friend, Dr. 
Adams, made a remark which called forcibly to my mind 
the recollection of that day when, a quarter of a century 
ago, I came to this city for the purpose of studying my 
profession. In the month of October, 1829, when just 
arrived, I was with the crowd which gathered at the City 
Hall to hear Mr. Webster in a great cause then on trial 
before the Circuit Court of the United States. The real 
parties in interest, though not the parties on the record, 
were Mr. Astor as plaintiff, and the State of New York 
as defendant. ■ A large amount of property was involved 
in the contest — several hundred thousand dollars. The 
controversy arose out of the confiscation, during the 
Revolution, of the estate of a portion of the powerful 
and wealthy family of Philipse. The legal questions, 
as I now remember them, grew out of the laws of con- 



54 

veyancing by the old forms of lease and release. It was 
the first time that I ever saw or heard the great lawyer 
and statesman. He touched briefly but beautifully upon 
the history of the ancient and honorable family whose 
estates, in the changes wrought by a successful Revolu- 
tion, had passed away from them forever. But it was in 
the clear, logical and masterly statement of the law of 
this case, as contended for by him, in which his great 
power was manifested. So simple, so plain ; and, to me, 
so clear and logical did his statement appear, that, though 
unlearned as 1 was in the law, I thought, at least at the 
time, that I understood the subject perfectly — indeed, it 
seemed to me that I could have made the argument — 
affording thus, perhaps, the strongest evidence I could 
give of his unequaled power. Even now I see, as. I 
then saw, that great head of his at work, and remember 
the homely, country illustration given soon after to a 
friend — that his head seemed to work with the power and 
effect of a country saw-mill- — literally dividing asunder 
whatever of obstacle in the way of argument came before 
him. For hours I stood and listened, and wondered, . 

" And still the wonder grew 
That one large head could carry all he knew."' 

When it was, in after-years, my good fortune to make 
his personal acquaintance, and to listen-to Inni in private, 
as well as in public, that wonder never diminished, but 
continued to grow. The man of our day, in some re- 
spects most resembling Mr. Webster is perhaps Lord 
Lyndhurst, at least so it seems to me, from an account 
I once heard from Mr. Webster, of his mode of speaking, 



55 

and of its effect upon the House of Lords. He observed 
that Lord Lyndhurst's power consisted greatly in his 
masterly statement of his case. He gave an illustration 
which he witnessed himself, and he showed that his state- 
ment was so clear, so connected, so logical, that when it 
was done the argument was complete. There was noth- 
ing more to be said. 

" Laudatus a laudato." 

But, Mr. President, I arose simply to make an, apology, 
and I have been wandering off toward a speech. 



Dr. J. W. Francis, upon being requested by the .Presi- 
dent, spoke as follows : 

After the eloquence which has l)een displayed here 
this evening, the copious demonstrations of sorrow which 
have been exhibited, and the intense interest with which 
all have listened to the tributes offered to the memory 
of the illustrious deceased, it appears to me too pre- 
sumptuous an undertaking to add one word to the melan- 
choly theme. But, gentlemen-, your call is too emphatic 
to be disregarded, and the earnestness of your appeal too 
deeply impressive for me longer to remain silent. I will 
take the liberty of stating a few facts and circumstances 
arising out of my acquaintance with Mr. Webster, and 
the associations which necessarily often brought us to- 
gether, both in the offices of friendship and as his medical 
adviser, for fifteen years, during his visits to this city, in 
his journeys to and from Washington. 



56 

When I was honored with an mvitation to be present 
at this meeting of the friends of Mr. Webster, I was de- 
termined tliat no ordinary obstacle shonld prevent my 
attendance. I considered the invitation too sacred to be 
overlooked. In common with yon all, I felt, and still 
feel how vast is the loss our country suffers by his death ; 
how wounding to personal friendship is his departure. 
I am, therefore, here among you this evening to unite in 
those sympathies which an abiding sorrow creates ; to 
contemplate the greatness of that beneficent God, who 
for the honor of our age and the people's benefit, gave 
to our nation the use of those extraordinary talents and 
that exalted wisdom, which were so wonderfully mani- 
fested in the actions and in the words of Daniel Web- 
ster. I can look upon the summons which has brought 
us here together in no other light than as a kind of solemn 
invocation, appropriated to friendship, love, esteem, and 
admiration of that great man whose magnificent presence 
and intellectual attributes no longer shed their halo 
around our board.' Yet, is the impress of his noble con- 
verse and his lofty patriotism, so indelibly engraven on 
our memories that, though he be absent in person, his 
spirit still speaks to our understanding. And in this 
respect, gentlemen, I think I may safely add, there was 
that about and in Mr. Webster, of so peculiar a charac- 
ter, of so emphatic an enunciation, in looks, in manner, 
in matter, in directness, 'in clearness, in singleness and 
in power, that no one who ever enjoyed his conversation 
could possibly forget those qualities. These qualities 
ever secured to him the profoundest attention of eager 



57 

listeners, cand doubtless tliey were those which constituted 
the strong basis of his great oratorical renown. 

I liave ever had, from my youth, a love and admiration 
of distinguished cliaracters, and during niyti-avels al)road, 
as well as in my professional career at liome, have had 
some opportunities of gratifying this passion. No mortal 
whom I Imve ever looked upon created in my mind 
stronger emotions of consideration and regard than did 
Mr. Webster. That ample and symmetrical form, stamped 
with the impress of collosal intellectuality, a command- 
ing front, of the greatest depth, breadth and loftiest 
phrenological proportions, betokened the nature of that 
precious material which constituted the cerebral organs 
and compelled the recognition of his wonderful talents 
by every individual who, by design or chance, moved 
within his circle. That matchless eye, revolving within 
its ample cavernous orbit, could penetrate the inmost 
soul, and give utterance to volumes in a minute. 
Add to this that staid philosophy, which added a still 
stronger conviction to all he said, and rendered all his 
knowledge so available. Enriched by the profoundest 
results of sedulous study and patient investigation in all 
kinds of learning, subjecting all his acquisitions to the 
crucible of his cogitative faculty, every thing he brouglit 
forth seemed refined by a rare mental process, and pre- 
sented itself to his hearers clothed in language no less 
clear than impressive. There was a hived wisdom in all 
this. He knew the triumph of oratory was conviction ; 
he knew that conviction could best be obtained by clear- 
ness, perspicuity, and the em2:)loyment of that diction 
7 



58 

wliich, by its simplicity, seized upon the faculties of the 
auditor by the most available avenues of perception. 

No speaker in the school of American oratory has ever 
been more remarkable for a style unambitious in phrase- 
ology, while his lucid statement and logical reasoning 
secured the great principles for the establishment of 
which, with patriotic allegialice, he aimed. He under- 
stood the right adjustment of all the parts of an argu- 
ment, the temper of the times, and the great object at 
stake. His whole soul was American ; he discarded all 
sectional feelings, the Union was his country ; its j^reser- 
vation the momentum of every pulsation of his heart. If 
he is to be deemed in anywise a party leader, all will 
bear witness that his political sentiments were, even in 
his greatest conflicts, uttered with firmness, exempt from 
all personal animosity or rancorous reflection. We look 
in vain for blemishes of this nature, even in his world re- 
nowned and most responsible effort, his reply to Hayne. 

On a particular occasion I remarked to Mr. Webster, 
it was a common observation with the public that his 
speeches were comprehended with scarcely the labor of 
reflection, and that he who runs may read. Will you 
tell me the secret of that effect? I added. " I have al- 
ways endeavored," he rei^lied, "to familiarize myself 
with the purest English writers, avoid the introduction 
of foreign tongues, to say what I had to express in the 
plainest terms, and never use a word of two syllables 
when one would answer.'' Notwithstanding all this, we 
find in Mr. Webster's writings the most harmonious 
phraseology and the sublimest bursts of eloquence. 



• 50 

As wo meet togetlier to recall the associations of days 
gone by, I will state that, while in London, in 1816, ] 
had occasional opportunities of hearing' some of the par- 
liamentary speakers of those times, and may then, per- 
haps, have imbibed some notions of oratorical talent. As 
vivid as yesterday are the peculiar impressions I then 
received. Tierney, with his open countenance, unosten- 
tatious and colloquial, yet filled with irony and biting- 
sarcasm ; who won attention to whatever topic he was 
summoned. Romilly, in every sense of the word a phi- 
lanthropist, whose religious convictions and profound 
humilit}^ added a charm to all he uttered oh the reform 
of criminal law and the deepest interests of his country, 
though uttered with feeble accents. That man to whom 
the integer vitae of Horace might be applied almost be- 
fore any other mortal ; GtRATTAn, grotesque in manner, 
often quaint in expression, vehement, impatient, yet 
challenging respect for services long rendered to patriot- 
ism, and compelling conviction by argument and disin- 
terestedness. Ponsonby, the lover of constitutional 
freedom, of kindliest feelings and honest principles, in- 
genuous in argument, and governed b}' an unswerving 
integrity. Horner, who held me chained to every word 
he uttered, by the courtesy of his diction, the closeness 
of his reasoning, the intrepidity of his sentiments, and 
his defiance of all aristocratical manacles. Wilberforce, 
whose grave aspect, plaintive enunciation, and consci- 
entious impulse elicited the attention of all who stood 
within the sound of his voice. Macintosh, the elaborated 
speaker, of didactic feelings and classical imagerj. Cas- 



60 

TLEREAGH, tlio prosaic rlietoriciaii, tedious in details, 
meandering in style, segregated in thought and matter, 
still pregnant with facts and effective issues. Brougham, 
the wonder of this age of parliamentary discussion, 
abounding in every species of knowledge, self-reliant, 
adventurous, disputatious, argumentative, quick in con- 
ception, rapid in elocution, with raucous voice and vehe- 
mence in gesture, bearing all before him ; now with meli- 
lluous words wanning proselytes to new measures, now 
in opposition to doubtful expedients, exhausting the 
bitterest invectives of satire on some unfortunate in- 
novator. 

As a reminiscent, I have thus briefly adverted to these 
prominent individuals and statesmen. But, on the sea 
of eloquence which I have thus explored with no incuri- 
ous eye, these gay, well modeled or rapid craft pass from 
memory the instant I revert to my own illustrious coun- 
tryman ; who seems to rise like a noble frigate, and 
tower above all, like the "mast of some tall admiral." 
No eloquence which I have heard has made so distinct 
and permanent an impression on my mind as that of 
Webster. 

It is seldom that the prestige of intellectual distinction 
is sustained by an im^oosing presence. We had it in an 
eminent degree in the instances of Washington, Frank- 
lin, Jefferson, Chancellor Livingston and Gouverneur 
Morris ; and Mr. Webster was quite as remarkable for 
his personal appearance as for his genius. In the street, 
as well as in the Senate ; in the social circle not less than 
in the hulls of justice, that majestic brow, that command- 



61 

ing form, that deep set, piercing eye, and those lips, 
capable of every grade of expression, from the smile of 
angelic sweetness -to the sternness of inflexible will, 
caught every gaze, impressed every heart, and won all 
minds to admiration. I shall never forget when, with 
the fame of his Plymouth and Bunker Hill oratory fresh 
upon him, he entered, one evening, the room where the 
Cooper Club had assembled, in this city. The natural 
dignity of carriage, the extraordinary head, the lofty and 
imposing figure, then in the prime of their strength and 
individuality, combined to realize an image where 

" Every God had set his seal 
To give tlie world assurance of a man." 

It is not for me to dwell upon the prodigious powers 
of application which Mr. Webster possessed, nor to en- 
large upon the vast acquisitions of multifarious Ivuow- 
ledge which he secured. He aimed at the mastery of 
whatever he undertook. His labor knew no ab.atement 
when the occasion demanded it. Hence he became the 
great exponent of whatever subject fell within the sphere 
of his investigation. His appreciation of duty to the full 
discharge of his task was a controlling stimulus to his 
efforts. His tastes accorded with the broad and manly 
cast of his genius. He was an ardent lover of nature. 
Agriculture was liis favorite pursuit, fishing his chosen 
pastime. You remember, that a few days before his 
death, he desired that his noble breed of cattle should 
be driven under his window, that he might behold them 
once more. The life of an agricultualist would, doubt- 
less, have been Mr. Webster's choice, had he consulted 



62 

liis own private wishes. In overseeing the avocations of 
his farmers, or watching the seed-time and harvest ; in 
experimenting upon soils and cattle he found an employ- 
ment at once useful and congenial. He never, perhaps, 
appeared to more advantage as a man th^n when, re- 
leased from the cares of state, he engaged in the pursuits 
so dear to him, at his own beloved Marshlield. Two or 
three years before his death, a farmer from New Jersey 
asked permission of a lawyer of this city, at whose office 
Mr. Webster had an appointment, to be allowed to call 
and look through the glass door upon the great man 
whose eloquence had so long filled him with admiration. 
It was granted. At the specified hour the farmer ap- 
peared, and gazed timidl}", but with reverence, upon the 
idol of his imagination. It so happened that the gen- 
tleman who was to meet Mr. W. was detained ; and the 
latter, glancing toward the door, and recognizing the 
farmer b}^ his dress, called him to his side, and began, 
in his affable way, to inquire about stock, crops, &c., in 
New Jersey. The farmer was, at first, disconcerted, but 
soon re-assured by Mr. W.'s kindness, he found himself 
engaged in a familiar tete-a-tete with the man he had 
only ventured to hope he might behold through a glass 
door. To his extreme astonishment, the statesman ex- 
hibited a thorough knowledge of agriculture ; he im- 
parted the most valuable practical hints, and made the 
most desirable suggestions, so that the farmer went home 
delighted and proud, and set about improving his farm 
and enriching its resources with so much zeal that the 
result was most successful. This anecdote illustrates 



63 

Mr. W.'s beautiful social syiiipatliies aud extraordinary 
practical knowledge. 

Let me, gentlemen, occupy a few moments in a some- 
what professional matter. As a medical man, I would 
say that, in almost every instance, the departure of our 
great men is hastened by over-work and imprudent pro- 
longation of public service. We cannot have forgotten 
the cases of Pitt and Canning abroad. Our own coun- 
try, I fear, is destined to furnish many examples of a like 
nature. It is due to humanity, that men of pre-eminent 
ability, and who have greatly served the public, should 
pass a few years in repose and seclusion. Instead of 
this, they are too often dragged into the arena, forced to 
exertions beyond their strength, called upon for services 
inappropriate to their age. No respite is allowed ; no 
final interval of quiet contemplation, after a long, har- 
rassed, and faithful .life. Independent of the duty we 
owe public benefactors, in securing them the solace of a 
brief retirement before they leave the world, consider 
the advantage which would accrue from the opportunity 
thus afforded, to gather up, arrange, explain and illus- 
trate the events of a crowded life. What a significant 
and beautiful spectacle is the venerable statesman, with- 
drawn from the cares of office, reposing on nobly earned 
laurels, and, for a brief period, living in the sweet con- 
templation of a useful career and the enjoyment of uni- 
versal homage ! • But this Godlike privilege, it seems, is 
to be denied the master spirits of our land. The noble- 
hearted Clay may have waited for it, but died in the 
midst of toils. So, too, of Calhoun. Webster was un- 



64 

able to attain to such as luxury. To die in harness 
seems to be a ruling principle of action. 

For some period before the final illness of Webster, 
even the casual opportunities I had of medical consulta- 
tion with him, convinced me that his great physical powers 
were on the decline, and that his massive intellect be- 
trayed, at times, the results of overwrought powers. 
That he taxed his strength to its fullest extent, is evinced 
both by the issues of his brain and the sufterings of his 
body. It is a fact familiar to yoii all, that during the 
last years of his life he w^as subjected to moments of 
great physical weakness. His rule of retiring at an early 
hour for repose, and rising vvdtli the morning sun, was a 
fixed law with him ; nevertheless, public cares and duties 
often broke in upon it. He was at all times moderate in 
eating, and circumscribed in the use of stimuli. During 
all my acquaintance witli him, I never observed him to 
deviate from these cardinal principles of health. He was 
fond of exercise and tlie open air. It was his mental 
faculties that absorbed the physical man. His oldest and 
most intimate friends, Mr. Blatchford and Mr. Ketchum, 
whom I see before me, can speak on this subject. My 
friend Dr. Stevens, whom I observe on my left, can ex- 
plain the ph3^siology and pathology of his instructive 
case. In Mr. Webster the cerebral power was too great 
for the ganglionic or sym})athetic system ; hence his cas- 
ual demonstrations of debility after trying eftbrts, and 
wdiat is, in popular phraseology, called nervousness. I 
have repeatedly seen instances of a similar kind. He 
who has studied tlie phenomena of organic life, the inti- 



65 

mate dependence of cerebral function on the gastric 
plexus, and that collapse of the mental forces, arising 
from the disturbance of their normal relationships in 
sound health, will comprehend the why and the where- 
fore of that sinking state which sometimes so suddenly 
invades the great speaker, and mars the gratification of 
his captivated auditory. Mr. Webster was apprised of 
this mutuality ; and how the perplexed brain and dis- 
satisfied mind involve the digestive apparatus and dis- 
tress nutrative assimilation. Sometimes he would quote 
the opinion of my Lord Bacon, " Cheerfubiess pro- 
motes digestion." It was only within the last year or 
two of Mr. Webster's life that these painful manifesta- 
tions of diminished tonicity were occasionally apparent. 
Let the disciples of philosophy contemplate Lockhart's 
life of Walter Scott and Madden's Book on the Infirmi- 
ties of Grenius. 

It falls not within my province to dwell on the relig- 
ious opinions of Mr. Webster. Our distinguished guest, 
the Rev. Dr. Adams, may find that- subject an appro- 
priate theme. All, however, who were intimate with 
the great statesman, were aware how deep was his love 
of nature ; how profound his reverence for the GrOD 
of nature. His religious belief he has given us in clear 
and emphatic language, in his elaborate argimient in the 
case of the Grirard College ; maintaining, with the zeal of 
a professed disciple of revelation, that Christianity is the 
law of the land, and the true and incorruptible basis on 
wliich repose a nation's glory and perpetuity. "Every 

thing," he observes, " declares it. The massive cathedral 
8 



66 

of the Catholic ; the Episcopalian church, with its lofty 
spire pointing heavenward ; the plain temple of the 
Quaker ; the log church of the liardy pioneer of the wil- 
derness ; the mementoes and memorials around and 
about us ; the consecrated grave-yards, their tomb-stones 
and epitaphs, their silent vaults, their mouldering con- 
tents ; all attest it. ' The dead ly^ove it, as well as the liv- 
ing.- The generations that are gone before speak to it, 
and pronounce it from the tomb. We feel it. All, all 
proclaim that Christianity, general, tolerant Christianity, 
independent of sects and parties, that Christianity to 
which the sword and fagot are unknown ; general, tole- 
rant Christianity, is the law of the land,'' 

He was more observant of the Sabbath and in attend- 
ance on public worship than most public characters whom 
I have known. The last Sunday he ever passed in New 
York, he listened to the eloquence of Dr. Hawks. The 
discourse was addressed to the young. In the salu- 
tations that took place after the church service was 
over, the Rev'd Doctor expressed regret to his illus- 
trious auditor that the topic to which he had invited 
his attention had not been of a more general character. 
"You could not, sir," replied Mr. Webster, "have 
called our devotion to a inore important subject. The 
education of the rising generation in Christian morals 
and belief is the true foundation of social virtues and 
national durability." 

Of the distinguished men of our own state I recall no 
one who, in comprehensiveness of mind and public spirit, 
so much resembled Mr. Webster as GtOuverneur Morris. 



67 • ^ 

The coincidence of scntimeu. 
gifted men is remarkable. Both ^^ 
fied with the Constitution of the Unitea ^ 
NEUR Morris as its author, Daniel Webste^v^ 
illustrious expositor and defender ; they were alike t.^ 
nent for social endowments, for oratory, for active zeal in 
all the essential political questions of the day, for public 
spirit, for intrepid patriotism, for a noble presence and en- 
larged views. Both were devoted agriculturalists ; what 
Marshfield was to Webster, Morrisiana was to our distin- 
guished statesman. When Gouverneur Morris was about 
dying, he said to his friend, " Sixty-five years ago it pleas- 
ed the Almighty to call me into existence, here on this 
spot, in this very room ; and now shall I complain that he is 
pleased to call me hence T In the last words of Webster 
you will recognize the same calm self-possession, the 
same reliance on the Divine benignity, and the same 
Christian philosophy in the manner in which those two 
glorious specimens of American manhood resigned their 
spirits to God. There was also a remarkable coincidence 
in the last scene of their respective lives. That of Mr. 
Webster is fresh in your memories. From the nature of 
his disease, Mr. Morris was aware that his hours were 
numbered. On the morning of his deatli-he inquired of 
his near relative, the Hon. Martin S. Wilkins, what 
kind of a day it was : " A beautiful day,'' answered his 
nephew. " The air is soft, the sky cloudless, the water 
like crystal ; you hear every ripple, and even the plash 
of the steamboat wheels on the river ; it is a beautiful 
day.'' The dying man seemed to take in this description 



68 

with that zes1t for nature which accorded with the poetic 
instinct of his character. Like Webster, his mind re- 
verted to Gray's Elegy • he looked at the kind relative 
and repeated his last words, " A beautiful day ; yes, but 

" who to dumb forgetfulncss a prey, 



This pleasing, anxious being e'er resigned, 

Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, 
Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind." 

I would not trespass upon your time longer, but the 
evening appears, by one common and earnest sentiment, 
to be wholly dedicated to the memory of our revered 
and illustrious friend, and I therefore comply with the 
suggestion of those around me, and repeat the reminis- 
©ences which, on the first announcement of his death, 
came vividly upon me, and to which I gave brief ex- 
pression at the meeting of the New York Historical 
Society, convened on that solemn occasion. 

The universality of the sorrow and the praise elicited 
by the death of Mr. Webster, is his most significant 
eulogy. It is remembered now, with tears and benedic- 
tions, that he invariably sacrificed party considerations 
and personal interests for the good of his country ; that 
he always marched bravely into the breach which sec- 
tional animosity made in the holy wall of our Union ; that 
the details of political aims were instantly forgotten, 
when any great question was at issue : in a word, that 
the prominent qualities of Mr. Webster were those of 
the great statesman and the genuine patriot. Such is 
the final estimate even of the bitterest speculative oppo- 
nent of the deceased, and in this glorious recognition of 



69 

a truly noble character, we find ample reason for the 
deep and unprecedented feeling which pervades the land. 
But here we may be permitted to indulge in less general 
emotions : it is given us to mourn, not only the great 
Senator and the illustrious Secretary of State, but the 
scholar, the companion, the historical man of our country, 
whose writings identify his name forever with our insti- 
tutions, and whose friendship was among the richest 
treasures of our society. He was one of us by virtue of 
the ardent love he bore the records of the past, and the 
high appreciation he entertained of the dignity of histori- 
cal learning. It is a sad yet delightful coincidence, that 
his last great effort was made at the invitation and for 
the benefit of the New York Historical Society. 

Daniel Webster was the ideal of an American citizen. 
The simple and stately grandeur of his style, the strong- 
basis of good sense, the firmness of purpose, the direct- 
ness of expression, the unanswerable logic, and, above 
all, the clear, emphatic statement of his thoughts, are all 
characteristic of the American mind in its highest de- 
velopment. The charm of his intellectual power, when 
genially exerted, was as attractive as Hamilton's, while 
his practical wisdom resembled that of Franklin. I re- 
call, with pleasure, a conversation once held with him, 
with regard to that illustrious sage. No individual 
throughout our wide domain cherished a deeper reverence 
for the talents and services of this incomparable man, 
than did Mr. Webster. In a discussion which arose 
among some friends, at a social board, Mr. Webster was 
asked his opinion concerning the political and fiscal in- 



70 

tegrity of Franklin — a subject which had been agitated 
with some asperity. " Gentlemen," answered Mr. Web- 
ster, "the topic is too broad for present discussion. 
Among all our political men, Franklin stands prominent 
for astuteness, sagacity, and integrity. Amidst all his 
negotiations, though the depository of innumerable state 
transactions, he was never known to betray the slightest 
secret, or to utter a hint from which a sinister revelation 
might occur. As to his fiscal integrity, who knew him 
better than Washington ? And had the slightest blemish 
rested upon that portion of his character, would that ex- 
alted man have nominated him as the first President of 
the Union, and at the same time when he himself was 
waited upon by authorized delegates to urge him to ac- 
cept that vast trust ? I want no other demonstration of 
the incorruptible principles of Franklin than that nomi- 
nation by Washington." 

The universality of Mr. Webster's knowledge was re- 
markable. He rivaled Burke in the instructiveness of 
his conversation. Who that has ever enjoyed the luxury 
of listening to his rich fund of incidents, touching the 
career of our illustrious patriots of Revolutionary re- 
nown — Otis, John and Samuel Adams, Hancock, Secre- 
tary Thompson, Patrick Henry, Madison, and others — 
can ever forget the vivid portraits he presented of those 
chivalric personages ? 

What a felicitous example, among many others, have 
we of that descriptive and anecdotical vein of our de- 
parted friend, in the composition which he has given us 
of the speecli ascribed to the elder Adams, as delivered 



•71 

in the Continental Congress, on the subject of the decla- 
ration of American independence ! 

Upon agriculture, he would talk by the hour, with a 
cognizance of details truly surprising in a man who per- 
formed such incessant duties to the state. Hear him on 
trees and their properties, and you would infer he had 
long lived an arboriculturalist. Linn^us would have 
been enraptured listening to the merits of his old corres- 
pondent, Bartram, the botanist and traveler, as unfolded 
by Mr. Webster. His reading in natural history was 
very extensive, ranging from Theophrastus, on stones, 
to Audubon, on birds. He gave great credit to Jeffer- 
son for his researches in this department, made while he 
was so young a man, and at a period when physical 
science was so little cultivated in our country. 

Will the Society pardon me, if I detain them a moment 
longer? The professional life of the physician has its 
corroding cares ; but it is not barren of grateful incidents, 
arising out of its intricate relations with the great and 
the good, amidst the diversified occurrences of physical 
sufferings and mental intercommunion. During a period 
of some fifteen years, my medical intercourse with the 
illustrious deceased, on his visitations to this city, was 
to myself a source of genuine gratification and instruc- 
tion. The wide grasp of his mind and the fullness of his 
knowledge demonstrated that characteristic which the 
G-ermans have denominated "the many-sided." How- 
ever diversified might be the range of conversation, it 
was stamped with his own individual elaboration, and 
poured forth with a free and untrammeled utterance that 



72 

marked a strong reliance on himself, and a conviction 
becoming the man who aimed so largely at the practical 
and the ennobling. He was remarkable for his frankness, 
yet winning and ]3ersuasive ; and, while solicitous of con- 
vincing, was . wholly free from dogmatic presumption, 
either in matter or in manner. His dexterity in repartee 
was felicitous, yet governed by the impulses of a benevo- 
lent and tolerant disposition. I think I know enough of 
his inward emotions to affirm that he detested the arti- 
fices and expedients so interwoven with the cares and 
aspirations of the life of a mere politician, with the most 
abiding and cordial hatred. The fates had destined him 
for the management of state affairs, yet I feel the strong- 
est conviction that greater joys and deeper gratifications 
would have flowed in upon his soul, devoted to the 
sublime pursuits of philosophical and natural science. 
He may have felt how vast was that fame which might 
hereafter associate his name with Washington's and 
Franklin's, yet a stimulus to action, no less potent, if not 
more so, might have swayed his career as a disciple of 
the school of Lord Bacon. Universal, indeed, as was 
his renown, achieved amidst the severer trials of his coun- 
try, he would, for his own individual solaCe, have pre- 
ferred Plato, in the groves of Academus, to Solon, en- 
compassed by the Athenian multitude. I am speaking 
of the philosophical tendency of his intellect. 

In casting my eyes around me, I see in this assembly, 
many individuals who graced the public celebration which 
took place in this city, in 1831, to honor Mr. Webster, 
for his successful and important efforts in Congress the 



73 

preceding season in reference to the Constitntion of the 
United States. That occasion can never be forgotten by 
those who in anywise were participators in it. Never 
before had this great metropolis made such demonstra- 
tions of its patriotism ; never was a nobler tribute be- 
stowed on the genius and wisdom of those exalted spirits 
who framed the Constitution of the general government. 
New York had furnished its full quota for the triumph. 
The venerable Kent, who presided at that memorable 
festival, must have received new life and fresh vigor in 
the contemplation of those captivating portraits of the 
founders of the Republic, which the gifted Webster pre- 
sented w^ith such discriminating judgment and admirable 
tact. How could it be otherwise with the enlightened 
and cultivated Chancellor? Many of the individuals, 
whom Mr. Webster passed in review, Avere of that noble 
band who had, during a long life, often co-operated with 
the eminent jurist in laying the foiuidation, and in rear- 
ing, in his native country, that temple of juridical science, 
the rays of which were to illumine the paths of its wor- 
shippers for all after-time. And when, with skill not 
unlike that of a master chirurgeon, the great orator, dis- 
membering the gangrenous adhesions of nullification, 
covertly intended to corrupt the Constitution at its very 
vitals, and pollute the very channels of its alimentary 
support, exclaimed, with prodigious force, " New York, 
that prosperous state, is the greatest link in the chain of 
the Union, and will ever be, I am sure, the strongest, 
also,'' could a more sublime manifestation of love of 

country work upon the feelings of the beholder, than that 
9 ' • • 



74 ■ 

grasp of the hand wliicli Mr. Webster received from the 
eminent ChanceUor, and from his okl associate in his 
legal labors, Chief Justice Spencer. The scene was 
worthy of the pencil of our Trumbull. 

I have often profited largely by those casual intervals 
of intercourse with Mr. Webster, which the sick room 
affords to the physician. He endured the annoyances of 
physical pain with becoming fortitude, and was accom- 
modating in a remarkable degree to the suggestions for 
relief which the exigencies of the moment pointed out. 
"As you please," he would say. His mind was ever 
heroic, whatever might have been his bodily distress. A 
slight alleviation of pain was frequently the precursor of 
higher intellectual activity, and his thoughts seemed to 
find a freer utterance, and his feelings a warmer tone, 
than under other circumstances. It was at such times 
that he abounded most in anecdote. The verses by 
CowPER, on Alexander Selkirk, were cited by him, on 
one of these occasions, as among the most admirable of 
that poet's writings, and the sentiment of the lonely 
islander dwelt upon with a depth and tenderness of ap- 
preciation, which showed how honest was his love of 
nature and independent life. Cowper's verses led to the 
mention of Defoe. " I annually read Robinson Crusoe, 
he continued : " ' I was born in the year 1632, in the city 
of York.' I think. Doctor, I know the book pretty, well 
by heart," 

Cowper was resumed. He dwelt with admiration on 
the merits of the poet, his clearness, power and whole- 
some ethics. 1 stated to him with what delight and 



J? 



75 

satisfaction I had visited the monument erected witliin 
the church at East Durham, and related the circumstances 
which made so strong an impression on ni}^ memory 
during my interview with the aged female sexton, who 
had attended him in his last illness, and discharged the 
solemn duties incident to his death. Among other in- 
quiries, I asked her if the poet was a punctual attendant 
on church service. "No, sir," she replied, " Mr. Cow- 
PEii rarely went ; he said he was too wicked to go to 
church." The life of Cowper, added Mr. Webster, solves 
the problem in his .case : Mr. Greathead has, in expla- 
nation of that, given us sufficient reasons : there is a 
state of contrition which seeks solitude ; the penitent 
soul shrinks from the public gaze. 

The reputation of Patrick Henry may possibly not be 
increased by an anecdote which Mr. Webster gave con- 
cerning the biographer of the renowned orator, on the 
authority of Mr. Jefferson himself. Upon the publica- 
tion of his life of Henry, Mr. Wirt transmitted a copy of 
it to Mr. Jefferson, and, after a silence of some time, 
addressed a note to the Ex-President, requesting his 
opinion of the work. Jefferson, in return, wrote : "I 
have divided my library into two parts — one for works of 
fiction, and the other for works of fact ; my mind is not 
yet decided in which compartment I shall place your 
volume." 

Professionally, I may be allowed to say that Mr, Web- 
ster offered an extraordinary instance of the influence of 
an enlarged and active mind upon a naturally fine physi- 
cal organization. His brain may be said to have con- 



76 

sumecl his body. The constant drafts upon his nervous 
system, his incessant exercise of the thinking faculty, 
made gradual but visible inroads upon his vital powers. 
And yet how serenely triumphed that mind at the close ! 
How the intellect retained self-possession and clearness 
to the last ! As love of country guided him while living, 
so did the consolations of Christianity support him in the 
hours of death. Never did a great man die with more 
unaffected courage, grateful submission, and true reliance 
on God. 

It is known that the great sculptor, Thorwalsden, 
seeing Mr. Webster's bust, by our countryman Powers, 
thought it a copy of some antique of Jovj:, so massive 
and ponderous, but harmonious, was the astonishing de- 
velopment of the organs of intelligence ; and I cannot 
help a feeling of regret that (if what the public papers 
declare, be trae) that' wonderful cerebral structure should 
have been disintegrated, through an unhallowed curiosity 
for experimental research. 

Carlyle said of him, that he was the only nuui ]ie had 
ever seen who realized his idea of a statesman. That 
firm, broad and noble figure stands out, indeed, on the 
tablet of memory, as does his name on the roll of his 

country's benefactors. There was a proportion no less 
grand and harmonious in his career and genius. The 
uniform self-respect which marked his intercourse with 
others ; the utter freedom of his most private dis- 
course from every thing exceptionable ; the sustained 
dignity of his bearing ; his love of nature, of the ever 
fresh and enduring old English authors — these, and 



77 

kindred traits, conform to the enlarged grasp of his mind, 
and the majestic simplicity of his eloquence. His re- 
vised and collected discourses are the most valuable lite- 
rary bequests yet made to the Republic ; his fame is the 
most precious inheritance of her children, save that of 
Washington ; and his example should be a new inspira- 
tion to every citizen who glories in the title of American. 

The philosophic Priestley, filled witli gratitude to- 
ward the land of his adoption, in his last moments, in 
1804, gave assurance to Mr. Jefferson that he was happy 
in ha vino- lived so lono- under his excellent administra- 
tion. I borrow the sentiment, and thank God that I have 
lived in a period in which I was permitted to enjoy some 
little intercourse with Daniel Webster. 

I have trespassed too long on your indulgence, and I 
cannot but be conscious that it is in vain to attempt to 
attach praise to one so much above all praise, in his ca- 
pacities and in his labors ; and, if it were not so, how 
should I think any declaration of mine could be remem- 
bered, on a subject which is already illustrated by the 
genius of our CiCERO^of Edward Everett — who stands 
towering, in classic, beauty and grandeur, in the waste 
left by him who was " above all Greek, above all Roman 
fame."' 



78 

Dr. Francis was succeeded by Thomas Tileston, Esq., 
who, at the request of the Chair, spoke as follows : 

Mr. President and Gentlemen : 

I rise under the greatest degree of embarrassment, 
but as we have heard from all the professions around 
this table, I thought it my duty, as a humble merchant 
of New York, to say something on this interesting occa- 
sion ; and, although I cannot say much, or do much to 
add to the fame of the distinguished statesman wdiose 
memory we have met to cherish, I must, sir, like the 
widow of old, cast in my mite ; and mite it will be, and 
nothing more. 

I was the early friend of ])x\niel Webster — that friend- 
ship was cemented by intimacy, and continued for years. 
I have passed many happy days under his hospitable 
roof. I have seen him in nearly every position in life ; 
and I think I knew him and understood him well ; and, 
at my age, I ought to know something of men and of 
humanity ; and I hazard little in sa^'ing, that in point of 
intelligence and capacity, he stood alone and unequaled. 
In early life I had read much and heard much of dis- 
tinguished men, of their great acts, of their heroic and 
noble deeds, of their capacity, and of their talents ; but 
how often have I been disappointed, when, later in life, I 
have come in contact with some distinguished man, that 
in my childhood and my youth, and I may say my maturer 
years, had impressed himself on my mind as the beau 
ideal of all that was necessary to form a perfect man. 
Was that the case, Mr. Chairman, with Daniel Webster? 



79 

No ! I can say emphatically, no ! — for of all the men I 
ever knew, and with all those that it has been my good 
fortune to become acquainted, he was the only man who 
appeared greater and greater, and more grand and more 
noble when you came in direct contact with him. He 
rose in magnitude as you approached him ; and, gentle- 
men, you can say this of but few other men. 

I have said, Mr. Chairman, that it had been my good 
fortune to have spent many happy days at Marshfield, 
and it was there, surrounded by his family and friends, 
that Mr. Webster really appeared in " all his glory." 
He was a great lover of natural history, and like Solo- 
mon, of old, he spoke of birds, and of fishes, and of trees, 
and his knowledge of all these branches excelled that of 
any one with whom 1 have the pleasure of being ac- 
quainted ; and he never was happier than when he could 
find some patient and intelligent listeners to hear him 
discourse on these subjects. Beginning with those 
splendid oaks that fronted his mansion, he would speak 
most learnedly of all the trees in New England, and in 
fact of all that are known in this country or in Europe ; 
and it would seem that there was not even a plant, or a 
flower of the field, however humble, that he was not 
familiar with, and of which he could not say something 
interesting. 

Walking out, one morning, (it was in the month of 
June,) I discovered that the small birds were very nume- 
rous and more domesticated than usual, and alluding to 
the circumstance, Mr. Webster said that he took great 
pleasure in cultivating a good understanding with these 



80 

annual visitors ; I love their company and their songs ; 
and even while he was speaking of them, a musket was 
fired not far from us. Said Mr. Webster " drive that fel- 
low from my place ; I never allow a gun to be fired on 
my premises ; I don't want those little creatures dis- 
turbed ; I watch them with delight, and protect them, 
and their nests have my constant care and protection, 
and I never permit any one to disturb them." And, gen- 
tlemen, it was this paternal care that had induced them 
to return, year after year ; and it almost appeared to me 
that they understood they had a friend and protector in 
Daniel Webster. 

Mr. Chairman, we all know that Mr. Webster was par- 
ticularly fond of angling, and I hazard little in saying 
that his knowledo;e of the finnv tribe exceeded that of 
any other man in our country. It was really delightful 
to hear him discourse of their habits, to describe the 
progress of the female fish when about to deposit the 
spawn, so that the sun may mature it ; and then describe 
the constancy of the male fish in watching over it, acting 
as a guard to keep off intruders, and both apparently 
with as much care as ever the fondest parents watched 
over their infant children. 

Mr. Webster was a man of most untiring industry ; 
and I will now mention a circumstance in illustration. 
Tlie morning after I arrived at Marshfield, I was sur- 
prised to iiear the sound of liis footsteps on the fioor some 
time before sun-rise, and profiting by his example, I 
arose myself, and going down stairs, T went to the li- 
brary, where I found him, at his desk, with a large ]}i\e 



81 

of letters, which he was engaged in answering. On my 
entering the room, Mr. Webster remarked that he had 
been absent a few days, during which time these letters 
had been accumulating ; and it has been my habit, through 
life, to devote the morning to my numerous correspon- 
dents, and it is therefore necessary that I should rise by 
daylight in the summer-, and at other • seasons long be- 
fore daylight, otherwise I could never reply to^the letters 
I 'receive daily. It was this habit of close application ; 
this constant and devoted attention which has tended to 
make his name so* pre-eminent. He was always at his 
post, performing his duty most faithfully, under -every^ 
emergency and circumstance of life. 

Mr. Chairman, I have already proceeded further than 
I intended, bat if I do not weary you I will relate to you 
one or two little anecdotes that occurred while I was at 
Marshfield. 

We started, one morning, on a fishing excursion ; on 
going out of the bay, the bony fish, as they are termed, 
were very numerous ; the whole shore was lined with 
them ; and his men were engaged, with their nets, in 
taking them, to fertilize the land. We, however, pro- 
ceeded, a,nd wlien two or three miles from the shore our 
boat was anchored, and we commenced fishing, and as 
the fish were plenty, we began to draw them in at a great 
rate, satisfied that we were doing a good business. Mr. 
Webster caught none ! he was seeking higher game ! 
soaring, as was his usual practice, for something beyond 
his companions ! Just at this time he said, "I've got 

him,'' and -we all turned to see what it was! all was 
10 



82 

silence! "Be still!" said Mr. Webster. Not a word 
was spoken. Occasionally the fish was allowed to run 
with the line, and then he was drawn gently toward the 
boat. He called his men to him, and ordered them to 
have their boat-hooks ready to secure him as soon as he 
should appear on the surface. It was a fine hallibut, 
weighing, it was judged, at least, two hundred and fifty 
pounds. All was still as night, and the fish was now 
visible ; the men, with their hooks, were ready, and just 
at the moment they were to secure their prize, the line 
parted, and off went this powerful stranger. And I shall 
never forget the appearance of Mr. Webster ! If he had 
discovered that his mansion at Marshfield was on fire he 
would not have been so much excited. ' ' Oh !" exclaimed 
he, "was he not a noble fello-w!''* 

Returning from our fishing excursion, about noon, we 
noticed on the beach a farmer, with a wagon and horses. 
As we landed, the man approached Mr. Webster, and 
taking from his pocket a long leather purse, handed 
him a half-dollar, saying, "Your men have been very 
successful to-day in taking bony fish, and I have load- 
ed my wagon with them, and, it is right that I should 
pay for them." Mr. Webster was taken by surprise 5 
and although he did not want the half-dollar, he disliked 
to refuse it, fearing it might give offence. The farmer 
then drove off ; and Mr. Webster, turning to his friends, 
said that this was the first money that he ever received 
from his Marshfield estate. 

One other little anecdote : riding with Mr. Webster, 
one day, I said, "Mr. Webster, there has been a story 



83 

going the rounds of the newspapers, to the effect that 
you received a dollar from two young men to pass them, 
on your back, from one side of a creek to the other. 
Now, I want to know whether the story is true or not ; 
and whether they hailed j^ou, and said, ' Old man, come 
here, and take us across !' " Mr. Webster replied that 
the main part of the story was true. " I saw the young 
men in that predicament, and did take them off, and carry 
them to the other side, and they did offer me a half-dollar 
each ; but I did not take it, so that the story is only par- 
tially true." 

This, Mr. Chairman, illustrates, in some degree, the 
character of Daniel Webster — he was ever ready to 
come to the aid of his fellow men — always ready to be 
useful in every emergency. 

In the early part of my speech I alluded to Mr. Web- 
ster's love of natural history, and I- have endeavored to 
impart to you the impression he made on my mind at 
his own fireside ; but, gentlemen, I shall never be able 
to impart to you the delight that I experienced in listen- 
ing to him at his own table, where we assembled, from 
day to day, and I may add, as a part of his own family ; 
there was no unnecessary restraint, and he would speak 
and act as he only could speak and act, beyond any other 
man ; going from theme to theme ; in fact one copious 
and never-ceasing fountain of knowledge continued to 
flow, until, mentally, I exclaimed " That no unirispired 
man ever siioke asjhis man speaketUr 

There was nothing in the material world that escaped 
his observation. We were sitting, one evening, under 



84 

that beautiful elm iu front of his mansion, and he said to 
me "That it really appears wonderful, and I myself 
am astonished that I have Hot paid more attention to the 
science of astronomy — that I have not studied more 
thoroughly the order and beauty of the heavenly bodies." 
And while referring to this sublime subject, and admit- 
ting and regretting that he had not given more attention 
to it, he went on with the most beautiful discourse, and 
the knowledge of Newtojst and Herschel, and the 
more modern writers, appeared as familiar to him as the 
lessons of his childhood ; and he really seemed to under- 
stand the subject more thoroughly than any lecturer that 
I have heard who attempted to explain the phenomena 
of the heavens. 

There was an incident that occurred in this very room, 
that I cannot help relating. Soon after the return of 
Mr. Webster from Europe, in 1840, a number of gentle- 
men were dining together, and 1 mention it to show that 
he was not only .possessed of the history and knowledge 
of the past, but that the future occupied his thoughts; 
and that his far-reaching sagacity was as prominent as 
any other desirable trait of his character. 

"I have been looking over the maps of California, and 
informing myself more particularly about that distant 
country," said Mr. Webster, " and in tracing up the west 
coast of America, my eye instinctively rests upon a spot, 
that, sooner or later, must become part and parcel of the 
United States. Do you know," said he, " that that Ifeau- 
tiful bay of San Francisco is capable of accommodating 
the whole nayal power of the world." At that time San 



85 

Francisco was but little known to us. A niercantile 
firm at Boston, (Bryant & Sturges,) had established a 
settlement in the neighborhood, for the purpose of trade, 
and for slaughtering cattle for the hides and tallow ; but 
little was thought about that port, and it was not even 
conjectured that at this time it would be the third com- 
mercial city in the Union in amount of exports. 

He then said, "I know not how all this will come 
about. I cannot see so far as that ; I hope we shall 
acquire it by purchase, but one of these days we shall 
have it." How prophetic ! how true! 

Before closing, I would remark that our country, under 
the dispensations of Providence, has been signally blessed 
with great and wise men, and wdiile Heaven has been 
most bountiful in gifts, if I were called upon to classify 
the most gifted, I would say Washington, Franklin, 
Webster. 

Mr. Ketchum.^ — -We have been struck with nothina- 
more favorably than the relation Mr, Tileston gave of 
Mr. Webster's character, as you approach him familiarly. 
I have often been struck with the same fact, that though 
very great in fact, yet he was greater as you approached 
him. Now, I don't know a man who could relate more 
facts to illustrate that position than Mr. Grinnell, who 
has been a long and well-tried friend of Mr. Webster. 

Mr. Grinnell. — I rise, in obedience to this call, but 
the gentleman at the lower end of the table must not 
expect a speech in reply. His call is premature. It is 



86 

true, I have been a long and devoted friend of Mr. "Web- 
ster, but there are others present who have known him 
longer and more intimately than myself, and who are, 
therefore, better qualified to respond to his appeal. If 
he will allow me, then, to name a substitute, I will ask 
your attention to a gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. 
Frelinghuysen, whose eye, even now, sparkles at the 
name of Daniel Webster. 



Mr. Fred'k T. Frelinghuysen, of Newark, N. J. 
By a friendly invitation, I have the honor, to-night, of 
being associated with those who love to cherish the mem- 
ory of Daniel Webster ; the honor of associating with 
those who recognize, in the 18th of January, 1782, one of 
the most propitious days in our nation's history, I had 
anticipated that, in silence, I should enjoy this communion 
of kindred spirits. And yet, when thus called upon, I may 
not remain silent. The great man, the day of whose 
birth we commemorate, has gone to higher and brighter 
scenes than those in which we move. The honors we 
would pay him cannot affect him now. While his mem- 
ory lives among us, his manly form reposes in its ocean 
tomb, and his immortal spirit has returned to God, who 
gave it. Neither is this association tainted by any politi- 
cal or party purpose. It is a meeting of friends, to pay 
a tribute of gratitude to our countrj'^'s benefactor. Its 
disinterestedness constitutes at once the peculiarity and 
the beauty of the occasion. Were I to attempt to speak 
of Daniel Webster, I ask, sir, where should I commence, 
where should I end ? For forty years his biography has 



87 

been our country's most glorious history. Mr. Ciioate 
beautifull}^ illustrated this proposition. At a recent 
presidential convention, being called upon by the audi- 
ence, he arose and gave a most graphic description of 
the condition and prospects of the Union. When he 
closed, a distinguished gentleman, in a speech of some 
length, intimated that Mr. C. had, by his remarks, at- 
tempted to electioneer for Mr. Webster. Never will I 
forget the spirit which animated the eloquent Choate in 
his reply. He seemed, for a moment, to comprehend all 
that Mr. Webster was, and all that he had done. He, 
in effect, said, " What must be the character — what the 
ability — what the service of that man in relation to whom 
it may be truly said, one cannot speak of the perpetuity 
of the Constitution, of the priceless value of the Union, 
or the future glory of our country, without subjecting 
himself to the accusation of being his eulogist, and of 
electioneering for his advancement ?" 

The thousands present, for the time, seemed, with the 
speaker, to appreciate how intimately Mr. Webster was 
identified with the past and the future of our country. 

As a lawyer, elucidating and illustrating the great fun- 
damental principles of organic law, I have always been 
taught to revere Mr. Webster ; and among such lumina- 
ries as PiNCKNEY, and Wirt", and Mason, no one shed a 
purer or a brighter light. Indeed, the venerable Mar- 
shall and the erudite Story did not condescend, when, 
leaning from the bench, they gathered instruction from 
his words. As a debater, sir, philosophical in argument, 
rich in imagination, copious, chaste and plain in language, 



88 

he was imeqiialed. As a statesman and a patriot, his 
memory will never die. 

In turning to his course in the Senate, our attention 
naturally, at first, adverts to the answer he made to the 
talented and chivalric Gen. Hayne. No New England man 
will ever forget that speech. As the noble son of New 
Hampshire rolled back the imputations which had been 
cast upon the land of the Pilgrims, and then pronounced 
that unequaled encomium upon the land of his birth, the 
men of New England gathered in clusters together, in . a 
corner of the Senate Chamber, and, as at the close of one 
of his impassioned paragraphs, he turned upon them his 
burning eye, it is said they wept like girls ; and well they 
might. That was the time for tears — for tears of mingled 
pride and gratitude. The position of New England had, 
by a champion from her own granite hills, been vindicat- 
ed to the Union and to the world. 

But, Mr. President, gigantic as was that intellectual 
eftbrt, he attained still prouder victories. It is said that 
the sacrifice of one's self to his country is the , greatest 
heroism. Twice did he make that sacrifice. That stal- 
wart man, alone, and almost unfriended, breasted the 
combined attacks of the press and the politicians of his 
own party, when he remained^ as has been adverted to 
this evening, a member of a cabinet which had departed 
from his own political views, and from the political views 
of his party ; when he remained a member of that cabinet 
that he might avert a war, otherwise inevitable, between 
the two great Christian nations of tlic world, England and 
America, The treaty of Washington, sir, will ever re- 



89 

main a monument to his honor and his worth. Who can 
estimate the amount of treasure, and blood, and death, 
and anguish he thus saved his country ? A spirit less 
noble, less patriotic, coukl not have made the sacrifice. 
Again, sir, he bre^ted not only the attacks of politicians, 
but he braved the whole fanaticism and thoughtlessness 
of the North, when he made that memorable speech of 
•the Tth of March, 1850. May not that be considered his 
greatest moral act? Hand to hand, and shoulder to 
shoulder with the immortal Clay, he rolled back that 
flood which was threatening our Union with dissolution 
and our country with peril. Yes, sir, even when Boston 
turned her back, and Faneuil Hall was closed upon him, 
the undaunted Webster stood, as ever, true to the Con- 
stitution and to the Union. 

I might, sir, go on and speak of Daniel Webster in 
the various aspects of his great character ; I might speak 
of him in private life, of his power in conversation, or 
of his power, as the noble Anglo Saxon called it, "to 
talk ;" for here he was unequaled. I might speak of his 
simple kindness in the ordinary intercourse of private 
life. Who ever read those inimitable letters to his trusty 
farmer, John Taylor, and was not impressed with the 
ease, power and kindness of his familiar intercourse. I 
might speak of his deep veneration for the principles of 
our holy religion, and dwell upon the evidences that he 
has left of having a personal interest in its free and saving 
provisions, but these are subjects upon which I forbear 

to remark. Some of you had the honor of his personal 
11 



90 

friendship, and all of us experience the benefits of his 
life. But he did not belong to us. New Hampshire may 
well be proud of her son ; Massachusetts may -boast her 
citizen ; America may extol her statesman ; but, after all, 
Daniel Webster neither belongs to New Hampshire, nor 
to Massachusetts, nor even to this great nation. He was 
the gift of God to the world, and to the world he be- 
longed. And he has done as much as any other indi- 
vidual man to extend human freedom throughout the 
world ; for, sir, the freedom of the world is identified 
with the preservation of the American Constitution and 
the Union of the States. 



Dr. Adams. — Several allusions have already been made 
to the care with which Mr. Webster was accustomed, out 
of respect to his auditors, to prepare for those addresses 
of which he had due notice. But there were occa- 
sions when no such opportunity for specific preparation 
w^as allowed. The " gaudia certaminis'' with which he 
met them, the promptitude and power with which, at 
such times, he delivered himself, were a result alike of 
his native genius and his habits of patient thought and 
discipline. 

An instance of this description is now before me. 
Through the kindness of a friend it was put into my 
hand today ; and, as it has never been seen by the pub- 
lic, it will be read with fresh interest. It is an extract 
from a letter by the Hon. Mr. Wise, of Virginia, describ- 



91 

inc^ one of the most remurkable specimens of Mr. Web- 
STEr's impromptu eloquence/'' 

"On the eve of their departing for Mississippi, the 
Whigs gave a public dinner to Prentiss and Ward. It 
was as elite an assembly as I ever saw gathered in the 
metropolis. The Hon. Hugh L. White, the Cato of the 
country, presided ; and Clay was there, and Webster, 
and their peers from both houses of Congress, and the 
most select of visitors, and the populace. 

"Many members spoke, when toasted; and many 
toasted to draw out speakers. Clay utterly failed to 
charm the assembly ; his wings seemed to be wet, and 
they flapped and floundered in the dust. Webster rose, 
and yawned, and gaped a bad apology for not trying to 
entertain us. After awhile he was called on again, and 
he responded to the call by punning on the names of 
senators from Mississippi. That state, he said, had sent a 
Walker, then a Trotter, and next she was likely to go 
ofT in a gallopiiig consumption. He sipped his toast, and 
down he sat again, to the disappointment of every body. 
The scene was dull, it began to grow late, and Judge 
White called me to his place of presiding, and retired. 
Two or tln-eescore guests remained until past twelve ; and 
at about one o'clock, some one— Gen. Waddy Thompson, 
of S. C, I think— rose, and said that the speeches of the 
occasion had been execrable, that no one liad tried to 



* This letter was written to Rev. Mr. Prentiss, of this city, who is, to the grati- 
fication of many, now engaged upon the biography of his lamented brother, the 
late Hon. Mr. Pbestiss, of Mississippi. 



92 

« 

touch a chord of feeling, or to clriiw a cork even of wit. He 
upbraided Webster, especially, with failing to attempt to 
speak with effect ; and, as a Southern man, appealed to 
him, Webster, a Northern man, to touch the theme of 
the Union. Clapping and calls commenced — Webster ! 
Webster! The Union! the Union! Webster! The 
Union ! He rose, and began in strains of solemn earnest- 
ness. As he went on he warmed — he grew taller — his 
large ox eyes expanded — his complexion grew darker — 
his heavy arm and hand worked like a tilt-hammer of 
Vulcan, beating out thoughts for the gods. He rose to 
the empyreafi, and yet seemed low down, to us, because 
his thoughts were so large that, though high enough, if 
small, to be out of sight ^ they compassed us all about 
with their mighty shadows, and the very clouds of them 
were luminous with Aurora-like light. He Ijrought forty 
men to their feet, their hands resting on the dining table ; 
their eyes gazing at him, and their lips parted, as if they 
were panting for breath. By-and-by he came to point 
the speech with its moral, and exclaimed ' And you, 
Southern brethren ! shall my children be aliens to your 
children ? Shall your children be aliens to my children !' 
This he said so touchingly, so appealing to the heart ; so 
generously tendering love and confidence, that, heavens! 
what a burst of feeling! The great- tears rolled down 

many a manly cheek, and • , of Greorgia, 

exclaimed, ' There, now ! didn't 1 know it? but my people 
wouldn't believe this. I'll tell them, as soon as I go 
home.' I shall never forget that night." 



93 

Mr. KETCiiuM.— Gentlemen, there is a very modest 
man at this table, who can address yon acceptably. Will 
yon allow me to call npon Mr. Baestow ? 

» 

Mr. Barstow.— Mr. President, 1 certainly have great 
canse to be modest, and yet the rising, promptly, before 
snch a company as this, affords no very striking proof of 
modesty. Having, however, neither classical nor oratori- 
cal reputation to feel a solicitude for, I can fearlessly 
throw myself upon the kind indulgence of our friends 
here, and obey the spontaneous impulses so naturally 
blended with such an occasion. 

I have neither the disposition nor the ability to make 
a speech. The more immediate cause of my being called 
up at all, I presume, originated in my casually remind- 
ing our honorable Vice-President, today, of an incident 
characteristic of Mr. Webster. 

Mr. Ketchum spoke so approvingly of what I related, 
that I was tempted to pencil it dow^, for him to incor- 
porate it in remarks of his own, which he knows so well 
how to present. As, however, he has not alluded to the 
circumstance, I must conclude he purposes to draw out 
as many of us as he can, whether we say much or little, 
and thus carry out the evening by combining conversa- 
tional remarks with the more elaborate and elevated 

addresses. 

I am not at all accustomed to rising before either a 
public or a private dinner party to relate an anecdote or 
a story. I must, therefore, ask the liberty of reading the 
little paper I had prepared for my IViend, Mr. Ketchum, 
as follows : 



94 



During one of the evenings when Mr. Webster was 
with us, here in New York, in 1837, I had the honor of 
being one, among some four or live of his friends, who 
were conversing with him. Late in the evening at his 
room in the hoteh We were referring, in a free and 
social manner, to certain steps which we looked upon as 
best calculated to bring him forward as our candidate for 
the presidency. Mr. Webster listened, with calm dignity, 
to our suggestions, and when we paused for some remark 
from him, he said, with impressive emphasis, "Gentle- 
men, I cannot but be pleased, and every way gratified 
with the views you present, (alluding to our opinions 
relative to public measures,) and I may truly add, that I 
had rather be surrounded by friends who are not afraid 
of being in a minority, than to be a dozen presidents r 
He further remarked, in substance, that he could never 
countenance any other than an open, and honest, and in- 
dependent course in the attainment of a?i?/ political end. 
In a word, I could see in this confidential discussion the 
same elevated dignity of character so manifest in his 
senatorial movements before the nation ; and I have 
again and again referred to this incident to show that 
there certainly was one great man as pure behind the 
curtain as he was before the world. 

And, Mr. President, since I have been called out as 
one of the more humble contributors to the sociabilities 
of the evening. I find myself tempted to refer to one 
other incident, connected with my occasional intercourse 
with Mr. Webster, illustrating the hindrances to the po- 
htical advancement of that great man, caused by an 



95 

overweening subserviency to the doctrine of supposed 

" availability." 

A few months before Mr. Webster's great speech at 
Niblo's Garden, some of his political friends had deter- 
mined upon calling a nomination meeting at Masonic 
Hall, the then Whig rallying point. 

Our worthy Vice-President of the evening, Mr. 
Ketchum, and myself, were delegates from the Seventh 
Ward to the Whig-General Committee. Our " General 
Committee, '' like many similar committees, had among its 
members some of the " expediency" caste, always back- 
ward in the public expression of good, honest opinions, 
until it could be determined how the current of public 
opinion was setting beyond the Alleghanies. From these 
very conservative gentlemen came up tlic intimation that 
the"^ " General Committee" must at once exercise all its 
puissant influence, and check any such - mdiscreef' out- 
break of public opinion as it would be- to name for our 
Chief Magistrate of the nation, a man who, for vast com- 
prehensiveness of talent was never surpassed. 

This indication of discouragement, from an organized 
committee of our own political party, caused much re- 
gret and solicitude among the more uncompromising 
portion of Mr. Webster's political friends. We feared 
it might dampen the courage, even of our good and faith- 
ful " National Whigs," to have our General Committee 
pass, and publish in the newspapers, a vote against the 

measure. 

My worthy colleague, however, evinced the most un- 
shaken confidence that we could triumphantly carry out 



96 

the pure and honest impulses of the people, despite of 
the counteracting influences of their more temporizing 
friends. 

Upon the evening of one of our regular sessions of the 
Greneral Committee, it was intimated that the expediency 
of the contemplated public meeting would come up for 
discussion. The contest came on soon after the opening 
of our evening proceedings, at our room, in Broadway. 

Set speeches were made against our Webster move, 
by gentlemen possessing oratorical and debating powers 
of a high order. Our friend, Mr. Ketchum, rose in reply, 
and, although I may perhaps trespass upon the rules of 
correct taste to eulogize his qualities in his presence, I 
must, nevertheless, say his efforts of that evening, equal- 
ed, in power and eloquence, any thing I have ever heard 
in political debates. " The mighty theme,"' as was once 
said by a great Irish orator, should, perhaps, receive a 
part of the credit. Suffice it to say, the combined action 
of the two carried a most triumphant vote in favor of 
having our meeting. 

The great assemblage took place in due course. Le- 
gions of the people .poured out, in their might, to pay 
merited honor to the great name of Daniel Webster. 
We followed up the move with active efforts toward 
elevating, to the highest office in this world, a man of 
sueli pre-eminent greatness. 

Although our ultimate hopes were blighted, no power 
on earth can take from us the proud satisfiiction of aim- 
ing right. We were not then, noi- are we now, ''afraid 
to be in a minority." 



97 



There was a majesty of character and a power of intel- 
lect, and an innuence about Mr. Webster, which dema- 
gogues and partisans by trade, shrink from meeting. 
With the people he was always popular. 

"The masses are with us— but the masses are not 
usually speakers." 

I will close my remarks, Mr. President, by reminding 
my brother merchants, now here with us, of a striking 
illustration of what was the immeasurable value of the 
great and deeply lamented Webster, to us plain and 
practical men. It is this : During the presidential can- 
vass of 1852, our fellow-citizen, George Wood, in a 
speech, replete with sound sense and genuine wisdom, 
alluded to the possibility, if not the probability, of our 
country being entangled in some of the consequences of 
a general European war, and added, "Let me suppose 
such a case to arise, and that the very panic created, 
should throw our business in confusion, threaten a gene- 
ral bankruptcy, and paralyze all operations, and that you 
should be collected here as you now are— that in place 
of the chairman and myself, this platform should be occu- 
pied by all the present candidates for the presidency, and 
you had time to hear a speech from some one, and one 
only, of them— setting forth our real position, the dangers 
and difficulties we had to apprehend, the best means of 
avoiding them, or the best mode of encountering them, 
whom would you call out? Whom would you wish to 
hear? (Cries of Webster! Webster! I) Is there a man 
in the country who would not want, in such an exigency, 
to hear him in preference to any other ? Yet, we ere 
12 



03 

told llic people would not put liim in tl:c appropriate 
jolace, from -wliicli his opinions should emanate, because, 
forsooth, he is too great a man. It" is time that this 
censeless objection should be abandoned." 

CuAKLES P. KiKKLAXD, Esq., was then called. 

Mr. KiRKLAND. — I have come here, tonight, but only 
in the humble capacity of listener, I have been warned, 
by all that gentlemen have said on this occasion, how 
perilous to attempt to make a speech without due prepa- 
tion. That preparation, sir, I have not had an oppor- 
timit}^ to make. I, therefore, can only say that it de- 
lights me to be here and unite with you in paying this 
tribute of respect to this greatest statesman of our coun- 
try. In my opinion, Mr. Webster's best trait was his 
uniform devotion to the Constitution, and to the best 
interests of his country. 

James S. Thayer, in response to a call from the Chair, 
next favored the company with a few eloquent remarks, 
and was followed by 

Mr. Grixxell. — Mr. President, the gentleman who 
has just taken his seat has passed a very just and proper 
eulogium upon Mr. Webster. In the course of his very 
happy remarks, he made some allusions to matters in 
which I feel myself somewhat interested. In the first 
place, as by birth a Xew England man, I feel all that the 



99 

P-crtlcman said about Massachusetts turning her back 
upon Mr. Webster ; and yet I do feel that it is due to 
that gallant state, to say that, if you were to-day to ask 
its reflecting men whether they believed ^Ir. Webster 
had done his'duty to the country, their answer would be 
aye, and their answer ever has been aye. But there were 
circumstances connected with the state of Massachusetts, 
and with the combination of parties, which brought about 
an expression there which was not really and truly the 
sentiment of the intelligent portion of that enlightened 
state ; and I feel it my duty to say that when Mr. Web- 
ster went back to Massachusetts, the soul and heart of 
Ihat state were with him, though an open demonstration 
of this feeling, for peculiar causes, was not allowed to 
appear on the face of affairs. 

Gentlemen, we arc here, tonight, to speak and think 
as we feel. Let us carry out the sentiment which the 
gentleman alluded to, as uttered by him before going to 
the Baltimore convention. Mr. Webster was at home 
the day before the convention met in Baltnnorc, sur- 
rounded by men from every portion of the country, 
seeking an opportunity to grasp his hand, ia token of 
their reverence for the great and enlightened statesman 
of the age. His house was thronged by these men, and 
' I may safely say, that the morning before the convention, 
between the hours of eight and half past ten o'clock, 
one hundred and fifty people breakfasted at his table. It^ 
was a proud and animating sight to behold, men from 
every section of the Union, crowding up to grosp the 
hand of Daniel WEBSTER-and yet, gentlemen, what was 



109 

all this for? What was the talc that was told in Balti- 
more ? Where were these men who came from the North 
and the South, from the East and tlie West, "to grasp 
that noble hand? How spoke this cordial enthusiasm 
then ? Did these warm pressures of the hand fulfill their 
seeming pledge? Alas! gentlemen, those hands grew 
palsied when the trial came ; or, rather, like the hands 
of an automaton, they could only move in obedience to 
the secret machinery of party. Thus it happened, that 
while Mr. Webster had the hearts of so many, he had 
the votes of so few. The iron trammels of party were 
too strong for this only effectual expression of iheir' ' 
preference. !Many a man was in that convention who 
wished the success of Mr. Webster, yet felt compelled to 
refuse him his support. 

Gentlemen, permit me, also, to allude to a sentiment 
from our friend Frelinghuysen, about Mr. Webster's 
remaining in the cabinet of Mr. Tyler. Tlianks be to 
Daniel Webster that he possessed the moral courage to 
stand where he did until he accomplished the important 
objects he had in view • and yet scarce a party-man in 
this city but arraigned his motives for remaining there. 
Mr. Webster staid there by the advice and counsel of 
true men, who were ready to siidv or svvim with him, W' 
and who advised him to hold on to liis position until the 
ends were consummated for which he took it. Gentle- 
men, that was a trying time for us politicians. I was 
one at that time, but, thank God, I am so no longer. I 
pleaded with Mr. Webster myself. I insisted it was his 
duty to stand there for his country's good ; and it was 



101 

to his honor that he did stand there, and so will posterity 
reo-ard it. He consummated a settlement of the qucs- 
tions which presented themselves at that time ; the chief 
of which was the North Eastern Boundary Question. 
This was of vital importance to us commercial men, and 
its adjustment was our salvation. He remained in the 
Tyler cabinet, and stood by that interest till it was ac- 
complished ; and whenever we, of the mercantile class, 
called upon him to stand by us, he never failed. Gen- 
tlemen, he did his duty there, and he did his duty after- 
ward. He did his duty then, and he did it down to the 
day of his death. 

Gentlemen, let me say, in conclusion, that it w\as a 
source of purest happiness to me, that in that convention 
I had an opportunity to give my vote to Daniel Web- 
ster— that I feel it as a proud distinction that I, alone, 
of all the sons of New York, I cast my vote for him— 
first, last and unchangingly. I believed he had been true 
to the country, and I determined to be true to him. I 
revered him as our country's light and guiding star. I 
sought to raise that star to its crowning attitude— but 
fate, alas! had decreed for it a sad eclipse. Neverthe- 
less, gentlemen, I console myself with the thought that 
he could have gained no additional lustre from the presi- 
dential chair— that he would have conferred more honor 
on th3 station than the station could have givento him. 



102 

'^Ir. GnixxELL was followed by Mr. Curtis, at llic re- 
quest of the Chair. 

Mr. George Curtis.— I rise, Mr. President, in obedi- 
ence to your call, and yet without a particle of that 
preparation with which he who has been the great theme 
of this evening's discourse was wont to arm himself on 
all occasions. Xo one has ever exceeded me in admira- 
tion of Mr. Webster, ever since I first had an opportunity 
to know him, now many years ago. I admired him, not 
only as a man of Herculean grandeur of intellect, not 
only for his unrivaled powers as a jurist and a statesman, 
but also for some traits of character less generally known, 
and usually considered as of minor importance. I was 
a passionate admirer of him in social life. Perhaps there 
have been but few men who united, so perfectly as he 
did, surpassing ability in public with peculiar attraction 
m private. He was not only the admiration of the 
world, but was, in a special manner, the joy of his per- 
sonal friends. The graceful lightness, the jocular cast of 
his mind, on proper occasions, was quite as remarkable, 
m my estimation, as was the massiveness of his intellec- 
tual powers, when duty called for the higher exercise of 
his talents. lie was not always the sturdy and unbend- 
ing oak, but sometimes delighted in becoming the flexi- 
ble vine. 

The first time I ever had the pleasure to hear him 
speak was in this house, some sixteen years since, at a 
dinner given to Messrs. Bell, Graves and Uxder^vood. 
Mr. Webster was one of the guests. The hour was late. 



103 

the speeches were excellent, and so numerous withal, 
that it was not until one o'clock in the morning that the 
toast was given, intended to call up Ui\ Webster to ad- 
dress the assembly. lie arose, smiling, and said, " ^^ hy, 
Mrf Chairman and gentlemen, is it not already to- 
morrow ? Arc not our physical powers exhausted? 
Why, sir, I am, myself, as dry as this bottle," seizing one 
before him, and turning it' up, when perceiving it to bo 
empty ; he laughingly added, " and the bottle, you see, 
is quite as dry as I am!" Who, that was present on 
that occasion, will ever forget the strain of enchanting 
eloquence in which he addressed the company ? No re- 
porters were admitted, and so one of his best efforts was 
lost to all but the hearers. One part of the speech made 
an impression on my mind toa strong to be ever effaced. 
It is as vivid now in my memory as it was when it firs't 
fell upon my ear. It happened to be within the scope 
of his theme to draw a most touching and life-like pic- 
ture of an American sojourning in Europe. He went on 
with his description, step by step, with most consummate 
skill ; his audience following him with breathless atten- 
tion, until, at last, his voice falling lower and lower as 
he spoke, he depicted him slowly sinking under the 
pressure of disease, mournfully turning his thoughts to- 
ward his native country, and exclaiming, as death ap- 
proached, " Moriens reminiscitur A.viros;'' repeating the 
quotation in tones of pathos that, moved the heart of 

every auditor. 

His fund of anecdote seemed, to me, inexhaustible. 
The exquisite manner in which he related the incidents 



104 

of his early life, added new charms to what was, in it- 
self, exceedingly interesting. Passing, naturally, from 
the scenes of his boyhood, he would often touch upon 
the first days of his professional career, in New Hamp- 
shire, and upon his intercourse with the eminent mep, 
at the bar or upon the bench, who were his seniors, and 
some of them his preceptors. The many humorous anec- 
dotes with which he coupled his reminiscences, enchained 
and enlivened the attention of his hearers for hours. 
Often have some of those, whose delightful privilege it 
was to listen to these recitals, lamented that they did 
not, immediately afterward, put them on paper, in his 
own inimitable language, with date and circumstance, so 
that some faint semblance of the charm might be pre- 
served, when he who gave it powder should no longer be 
present to weave the magic spell. 

I desire to bear testimony to the truth of the state- 
ment made by the gentleman who first addressed us, with 
respe'ct to the preparation that Mr. Webster, was care- 
ful to make, whenever he intended to lay his thoughts 
before the public. I consider it special good fortune to 
have had the honor, more than once, when he was re- 
volving a speech upon important topics, to be consulted 
by liim with regard to matters of practical detail, with 
which he supposed my course of business had led me to 
be more familiar than he possibly could be. He did not 
pretend to be a universal genius. I mean, by this, that 
he did not profess to have intuitive knowledge upon 
every subject. Whenever he had occasion for informa- 
tion cf a peculiar character, or desired to be assured that 



105 

the views he had formed of the practical operation of 
any measure were right, he sought the aid of those whose 
actual experience, he thought, would furnish what he 
wanted. It was not difficult to put materials into the 
crucible of his mind, but who else could transmute them 
into gold, as he did ? Taking me by the arm, one even- 
ing, and walking aside for a moment, he remarked, " I 
am the greatest thief in the w^orld. I steal other men's 
knowledge. I want, just now, some of yours." He then 
mentioned what it was he wished. So kindly and grace- 
fully did he approach men for this purpose, that they al- 
ways rendered him the service he desired with the utmost 
alacrity. It was certainly a source of pride to me, that 
he supposed I could sharpen any weapon he proposed 

to use. 

I was much struck with the force and truth of the re- 
mark which fell from the Rev. gentleman we have had 
the pleasure to hear, that many of the political opponents 
of Mr. Webster have done themselves honor, and their 
own sense of justice credit, by the becoming manner in 
which they received the melancholy intelligence of his 
death, and the tribute of respect they have paid to his 
memory. The grajtifying fact shows that political differ- 
ences, bitter and unscrupulous, as they frequently are, 
can sometimes be changed into other and better feelings 
in view of the grave. The foe who, upon the death of 
an antagonist, fires minute-guns from his hostile batteries, 
in honor of the departed, elevates himself by the act. 
Certainly, sir, an eminent person, who is now distin- 
guished in these United States for the high ofi&ce he holds, 
^ 13 



106 

will, in my judgment, be quite as much distinguished in 
future history for a touching thought to which he gave 
beautiful expression upon the fatal event alluded to. 
" A nation's heart throbs heavily at the portals of Web- 
ster's tomb." Franklin Pierce never uttered any thing 
more worthy of lasting remembrance than that eloquent 
sentence. 

It would not become me, sir, in the presence of so 
many of Mr. Webster's personal friends, much more 
competent to the task than I am, to undertake any ana- 
lytical examination of the character of his mind. Which 
of his faculties predominated, in what proportion various 
qualities were combined, whether he excelled most as a 
lawyer or as a statesman, or whether he would have been 
greater still in some other field ; these are inquiries which 
I must leave to others. Instead of attempting to sepa- 
rate from each other the brilliant colors of the rainbow, 
I must be content to admire the transcendent beaut}^ of 
them all, as seen united in the heavens. 



Mr. Ketchum. — Mr. President, we have heard much, 
tonight, of Mr. Websher^^ public character. I feel that if 
there is any thing to be said by any gentleman in refer- 
ence to Mr. Webster's private acts, it would be very de- 
lightful to hear. In that connection I beg leave to state 
one or two facts. For the last quarter of a century I have 
taken that excellent and conservative paper, the 'National 
Intelligencer. I read an obituary notice, several years ago, 
in one of its numbers, of a young farmer from Marshfield. 



lOT 



He had been west, was taken sick, returned to Waslung- 
ton, and died there. It struck me as singular that a 
youn»- fanner should have such an obituary ; but I knew 
the slyle, and saw it was Daniel Websteii's. I made 
inquiry about it-not from him, for he never spok« 
of it It was a remarkable trait of Mr. Webster 
that he never spoke of any act of benevolence on 
his part. I made inquiry, and found that the young 
man had come to Washington, where he had the typhus 
fever and that Daniel Webster sat by his side, night 
and day, and administered his medicines to him, until he 
died The young man was so attached to Mr. Webster 
that he would not take medicine from any other hand. 
Friends remonstrated with Mr. Webster, "This is a con- 
tagious disease, and you ought not to expose your life 
in this way." It is of infinitely more value m the ser- 
vice of the country. But nothing could deter him. 
There he sat, through the whole progress of the disease, 
every moment he could spare from the public service 
until the young man died, and he closed his eyes ; and 
then he wrote that obituary. That is only one of the 
many acts which have come to my knowledge. I have 
related this single circumstance to call out one of our 
friends and a friend of Mr. Webster. He is one of us, 
and meets with us at this table. Indeed, he is our host, 
Mr. Stetson. 



108 

Mr. 'Stetson.— While Mr. Barstow was relating the 
anecdote he introduced, a similar incident occurred to 
my mind. I thought I would take an opportunity to re- 
late it, if I said nothing more. Some years ago the 
presidential contest was approaching, and Mr. Webster 
was here on a visit, occupying these apartments. 1 felt 
a deep interest in his welfare, and made it a custom, in 
my humble way, to suggest whatever occurred to me as 
having a tendency to promote his interests and advance 
his prospects. One morning we were standing in the 
square together. There were a great number of people 
in the open space, evidently occupied in looking at him, 
and manifesting a desire to speak to him ; but he showed 
no indication that he desired to talk with them at all. 
So we continued to walk up and down quietly, talking 
about oxen, bulls, &c., for he was accustomed to talk 
about such things. At last, I said to him, "Now, I 
would suggest to you, sir, that you permit me to intro- 
duce you to two or three gentlemen here, and they will 
introduce you to others, and there will be a hundred gen- 
tlemen who will gather about and talk with you. They 
will look in your face, see your eyes, hear your words 
as ijou utter them, and they will go away with an impres- 
sion that will last them all their lives. You know what 
they say of you over the country, how they slander you. 
Now you have only. to show your face to honest men to 
rip their prejudices out of them." He walked down the 
passage a step or two, lifted his stalwart form erect, and 
observed, "Why, Charles, do you think I would make a 
pump handle of my arm to be the President of these 



109 

United States?" I thought him incorrigible, gave it up, 
and he went into his room. 

I think I have a right to take this opportunity to 
speak of one or two matters in connection with Mr. 
Webster. For seventeen years I have had uncommon 
facilities for seeing Mr. Webster, and knowing much 
about him, and I presume I shall not be charged with 
vanity, when I say that no man spent more hours quietly 
and socially with him, than I did, while he was in New 
York. I am not about to give you an illustration of his 
joyous simplicity of character, his affectionate heart, 
or the kindness with which, on all occasions, he would 
administer knowledge, and point out the best method to 
gather it quickly ; but I want to take this opportmiity 
to stab one slander, which has already hee7i struck with 
death, and to give my humble evidence in the case. I 
wish to testify, from a constant study of him, against 
that wretched slander, that he was intemperate. I can, 
before my aoD, say that I never saw hhn intoxicated. Mr. 
Webster was liable to appear at physical disadvantage. 
Medical men can illustrate, dispute, or prove what I am 
about to state as my analysis. For years I had been 
aware of his growing personal weakness. He alluded to 
it during two years ; three or four times I have observed 
a marked influence of the mental over the physical. 

As Mr. Webster would, in respite of thought, grow 
vigorous in his manner and action, so would his body 
cower and grow feeble under mental excitement. In the 
approach to an action, during the action, it was evident 
that the mind mastered the body, and at the end, he was, 



110 

for a time prostrated, liis limbs were then too weak to 
carry off his body. 

To illustrate, he asked me, in 1830, to go with him to 
Saratoga, where he was expected to make a speech. 
We were several days together. On board the steamer, 
going up the river, he seemed to be out of spirits and 
gloomy. He retired early to his state-room, and I went 
in to see him after he had got into his berth. I said, 
" How do you feel?" "Not very well," he answered. 
"Won't you have a little brandy and water ?" "No, 
no," said he, "I don't wish for any." I, however, went 
and brought some to him, mixed as I thought it ought to 
be, and said, "Do take some of this, it will warm you, 
and make you more comfortable." He drank a little of 
it, handed me the tumbler, whirled over in his birth, and, 
in tones, not to be misunderstood, said, " Let me alone, 
I don't want to be bothered any more." We arrived at 
Saratoga, and sojourned there several days before the 
convention took place. 

We went upon the staging that had been erected. 
After being there some five or six minutes, the people 
got up in such numbers that it broke down, and we all 
tumbled to the ground together. We then looked about 
us for some method of erecting a new staging, or some- 
thing else. The substitute was a long, red pedlar wagon, 
with a top to it, about eight or ten inches wide^ with 
sloping sides. Mr. President King, of Columbia Col- 
lege, then connected with "the American," was upon 
one end of it and I upon the other, between us stood 
Mr. Webster, without proper support for his toes or 



Ill 

heels, for two hours aiul forty mmutes, and there he 
made a speech. It was a great speech, and he ex- 
erted himself much to make it. When he had finished, 
I jumped oir the wagon, and with the assistance of Dr. 
Barstow, managed to take him down. He was so weak 
that he put his knee to the step, and fairly crejn into the 
carriage. When we all got in, he said, " Well, do you 
think they will say I have drank too much today ?" "I 
shouldn't be much surprised if they did," I answered, "I 
could not hold you up as we came along." We went im- 
mediately to the house, and into the parlor. I said to 
him, "You had better take a little brandy and water, I 
know it will bring about a re-action and make you feel 
chipper." He would not take any, however. Directly 
the doctor came along, and said he had better take some. 
Then he took a very little, went and laid down, fell 
asleep, and, after a brief nap, awoke perfectly refreshed. 
Shortly after this I went into the common assembly room 
of the hotel, and, as I passed along the hall, I heard a per- 
son say " What a fine speech ; but wasn't he .bloody tight." 
And so it was, that whenever Mr. Webster made a strong 
iutellectual effort, he was always personally feeble ; while 
he was as free from alcohol, or any thing of the sort, as 
an angel in heaven. 

After he received that mortal wound, in Marshfield. 
by falling out of his wagon, I was extremely anxious 
about him. During two or three visits I was with him a 
good deal, and watched him closely. I observed that he 
was disposed to become drowsy if he sat by himself a 
little while. He came on here to make an address be- 



112 

fore the Historical Society ; and there I heard of respec- 
table gentlemen 'having stated that he was intoxicated. 
A fouler slander never was uttered hy mortal man. 1 
walked down with Mr. Webster, over that miserably 
constructed staircase. He walked as straight as an en- 
gineer could, and as true to a line. He was in a mood 
by no means as excited as I have seen him, but appa- 
rently dull and uncomfortable, though expressing him- 
self clearly enough to me, " I wish I hadn't got to go 
through this." And, in this mood, he probably inclined 
his head ; he might have looked as if he was tired or 
sleepy, and I should not have been surprised if he was ; 
but he was not drunk, or under the influence of wine or 
liquor of any kind. 

I will relate another instance, because I think it my 
duty to help put down this most base calumny. He was 
with us, of the New England Society, in 1852. Some of 
our arrangements had not been as fortunate as common, 
and we were anxious to get some one to come and speak 
to us ; at a VQry late moment we made a foray on Mr. 
Webster. I wrote to him on the subject, and I think 
Mr. Grinnell did also. We had little success, however. 
He was engaged with Mr. Bulwer, and wrote to me, 
peremptorily, that it was not possible for him to come. 
Circumstances, however, had transpired, which left it in 
my power to be perfectly frank with Mr. Bulwer ; so he 
said to Mr. Webster, " If you will go down to New York 
I will go too, and we will talk of these diplomatic afiViirs 
on the way.'' Mr. Webster said, " I'll do it," and they 
both set out for this city. He took the whole journey 



113 

without sleep, and had passed the previous night in pre- 
paration, wliieh was hard work for a man nearly seventy 
. years old, and it was not fair to charge him with being 
tipsy, after he had been busy, and riding twenty-four 
hours without sleep, and was so excessively fatigued. 
He was full of good humor before dinner, as ever I saw 
him. He went into the dining room with us, and we en- 
joyed ourselves, and I have no doubt he partook of the 
enjoyment. By-an,d-by he was enveloped in a cloud of 
smoke so dense we could hardly see to the end of the 
room. He sat with his hand over his eyes, perhaps think- 
ing over what he was about to say. He did not seem to 
be trying to get up a reputation for being tipsy. He 
made a speech. Most of us heard it, and it sounded very 
little like the speech of a drunken man ; yet, on that oc- 
casion I heard more than twenty persons say that he was 
intoxicated, when I know that he got up from table as 
sober as a man could be in the world. 
Question. — " How was it at Rochester?" 
Mr. Stetson. — I thank you ; no better illustration is 
needed. I have said, most emphatically, that I never 
saw Mr. Webster intoxicated. Yet, I know that at 
Rochester he was under the influence of drink. He went 
from this house feeble. 

He was sick during the journey, and unwell when he 
went to the festival to make a speech. The gentleman 
who went from this city with him was too modest, and 
therefore neglected his duty, which was to sit by Mr. 
Webster, and be sure that he, alone, gave him to drink. 

Under the excitement of speaking, he asked for some- 
14 



114 

thing to moisten liis lips, when whiskey was poured into 
his tumbler, and thence into his stomach ; its effects were 
instantaneous. On his return, after greeting him, I 
asked him how he enjoyed his visit, " Admirably ; every- 
thing went well, except, that some one gave me strong 
drink while speaking, which excited me very much. I 
hope that there was no bad intention." He was angry, 
as well as grieved. 

I relate these instances, in this simple way, and give 
my knowledge of Mr. Webster's habits, because I think 
it a duty I owe to Mr. Webster, and to the gentlemen 
here. I rekte them that they may tell their friends and 
neighbors, and teach to the children of this generation 
that that slander had no foundation in fact. 

On reflection I will give you an illustration of his good- 
ness of heart. When he came down from Washington, 
after the Baltimore Convention, I thought him feeble, 
and very unwell ; several gentlemen called to see him, 
who noticed it. After a very serious conversation with 
him for some time, in relation to his personal matters, 
and the condition of politics, I left him. Later in the 
day, as I came around the corner of the entry-way, near 
his room, he was standing alone. I walked up to him, 
I put my hand upon his breast, and said to him, "I hope 
you are all right here." "Yes, sir," he replied, "I am 
too near God to have a single heart-burning against, a 
human creature on the earth, but I have a chagrin as 
profound as my entire nature, and it is, that after having 
performed my entire duty to my Southern brethren, they 
had neither the courage nor. kindness to place me on the 



115 

record in that convention ; I do not say I did not want 
the nomination, but I woukl rather have had tJieir record 
than the nomination." I was struck very forcibly with 
the manner and the feeling with which ho uttered these 
words, I am not one of those friends of Mr. Webster who 
feel any deep regret that he was not made a candidate 
for the presidency. I think there was a Providence in 
it, and it was all brought about for a good end. Had he 
have had health, been nominated, elected, in Washington, 
with the anxiety and the responsibility of the government 
on his hands, he might have been cut down suddenly, as 
others had been before him. As it was, he went down 
to Marshfield, and quietly breathed away his life. I 
have sometimes, in thinking it over in my mind, for my 
own comfort, considered how much better it was that he 
died as he did, than that he should have been made 
President, and then struck down ; ever}^ body knows 
that our young men, whatever profession they may fol- 
low, must of necessity, know something of Mr. Webster's 
manner and matter, and almost every man would, under 
the influence of the slanders to which I have referred, 
have thought, " What a pity it is that he had such habits." 
IS^ow, sir, the death-bed scene at Marshfield, with other 
facts now coming to light, will go down to future gene- 
rations, sanctifying his works ; and when the youth of 
our country pore over these valuable books, for their 
gratification and instruction, to strengthen their minds 
with the words written and spoken by that great man, 
that death-bed scene and those facts will rise up ; yes, 
sir, I repeat, as an absolute sanctification of the acts of 



116 

his life ; rendering them holier, and more durable in 
their influences. 



Dr. A. H. Stevens. — Although I had intended to have 
enjoyed the evening in silence, yet, in relation to one 
subject that has been alluded to, I rise, not an unwilling 
witness. Just before Gren. Harrison's inauguration, it 
was my good fortune to be honored with an invitation 
from Mr. Webster to become an inmate of his house, in 
Washington. It resulted in a visit of three weeks, and 
during this period I was Mr. Webster's companion during 
much of the day. The last two hours of the night, be- 
fore retiring to bed, were usually passed "by us together, 
in social conversation ; but a word of politics was rarely 
exchanged between us. During all this time I never 
saw him any more unfitted for conversation, upon any 
subject, at any period or hour of the day, than any 
gentleman whom I now see present at this table ; never, 
for one moment. My friend, Dr. Francis, has stated, 
what I fully concur in, that Mr. Webster, though a 
statesman and an orator, was yet made for a still higher 
position. He was a philosopher. A favorite subject of 
his contemplation was man and his destiny — how he 
came here, who placed him here, why he w^as here, and 
what became of him hereafter. These were oft-recur- 
ring subjects of his thoughts, when he could dismiss the 
political matters which were pressing upon his mind. I, 
therefore, concur, most fully, in what came from Mr. 
Stetson. I do not regret that he was not made Presi- 



117 

dent of the United States. He was made for better and 
higher things. It would have done him no lionor ; and, 
perhaps, have subtracted from his usefuhiess in the world. 
Could Mr. Webster have retired from political life some 
two or three years before his decease, I am full}- per- 
suaded that he might, and, perhaps, would have left en- 
during memorials of his labor in the walks of litera- 
ture and science. 

There was that in Mr. Webster which I have never 
seen in an}^ other man — he was, beyond any other man 
with whom I ever fell into intercourse, above any thing- 
like envy or malice. A prominent trait of his character 
was a desire to make every man and even every animal, 
happy around him • and the tact with which he studied 
their happiness, showed the warmth of his heart as clear- 
ly as the highest efforts of his eloquence or statesmanship 
exhibited the powers of his mind. None but a man of his 
superior elevation could have devised those thousand and 
one ways of making a guest happy ; and I appeal to every 
man who ever enjoyed his hospitality, for the truth of 
this trait in his character. Not to be egotistical, I will 
mention one of these thousand ways. If, during the 
evening hours, we had been talking upon any subject, 
and had not talked it out when the hour for retiring 
came, the next morning I would find on my table two or 
three books upon the subject ; perhaps marked, or opened 
at the place referring to the subject upon which we had 
been conversing. 

We, of the medical. profession, owe a debt of gratitude 
to Mr. Webster. I never saw a man who appreciated 



118 

the vast amount of learning which should be connected 
with the profession of medicine, as Mr. Webster did. 
Whenever he alluded to it, he did so with some regret 
that his earl}' education had not included some of those 
studies that belong to a physician, that he might have 
understood the nomenclature of chemistry, particularly, 
and gained some knowledge of the structure of man. " I 
love to talk with gentlemen of your profession," he would 
often say ; and I have no doubt he would say to a cler- 
gyman, " I love to talk upon the subject of your pro- 
fession." 

Dr. Francis. — Speak of that peculiarity of his brain, 
doctor : its body-wasting power. ^' 

Dr. Stevens. — Long antecedent to his death, he labored 
under the effect of disease, and, if he did aught, subject 
to criticism, subsequent to tlie injury he met with, it 
should be set down to that cause. But where will you 
find, in ancient or ijiodern history, a more sublime death- 
bed scene than his, or one more worthy of admiration ? 
The memory of the heart remained entire, although his 
intellectual powers may have faltered. Vegetables, seen 
through a microscope, display their beauty ; animals, their 
coarseness ; so Avith some characters. His was great, even 
in a minute examination. His intellect exhibited the 
muscular development of Michael Angelo ; the grace 
and beauty of Raphael. An elephant, with his .probos- 
cis, can pick up a })in, or tear up an oak, so Mr. Webster 
exhibited playfulness and strengtlu- 1 know of no writer 
or speaker, ancient or modern, whose mind was so clear, 



110 

and whose tliougiits so unniistakably cxpressecl. Had he 
written on metaphysics, I believe he wonld have made 
even that snbject intellfgible to minds of ordinar}^ com- 
prehension, 

A distinguishing trait of his character, upon which his 
friends love to dwell, is his goodness ; his love of hu- 
manity. He had, indeed, a lofty, spurning indignation 
for all littleness, but it passed off in a moment. He 
studiously avoided contact with it. He thought more 
of the good to be found in the minds of God's creatures, 
without looking too much into the littleness of things". 

Grentlemen, there is no beginning and no end, to any 
thing that may be said of Daniel Webster. My belief 
is, that the appreciation of his character and of his ma- 
jestic intellect has but just begun. He was a man not of 
this century alone ; you may look for half a dozen cen- 
turies before you will find another. 



Here there occurred a cessation of the speaking, and, 
on motion of Mr. Tileston, it was resolved to meet again 
on the 18th day of January, 1855. 

The same Committee of Arrangements to be continued, 
with power to fill vacancies, and add to their number. 

The company then separated, at half past eleven 
O'clock. 

THE END. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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